Please help - JSA?

ANonnyMouse_2

Hi everybody :hello:

I posted on the Job board but I think it was the wrong one so wondering if anyone can help me here?

I am facing redundancy from my job (following a consultation). It's not definate but I would have thought it was pretty likely for a number of reasons.

I am 22 y.o and I live with my boyfriend in rented accomodation. He is a FT student. I only finished being a student in June and have been FT working since then in my current job. I paid some NI before I think from part time work but not sure how much.

I thought I would be able to get under 25 JSA and help with Housing and Council tax. I also read that although students can't get benefits themselves, if their partner is cliaming you may be able to.

So I went into the Jobcentre today to ask about it and this (rude) woman said that as I hadn't paid 2 yrs NI contributions and lived with my boyfriend, I would not get ANY benefits at all as he is not available for work and I couldn't claim on my own. Is that right? Because he only has his student loan so it's not like he can support me AT ALL and also it would mean that unless both people are unemployed, you can't get benefit...surely that is wrong?

I asked whether I would get income JSA and she said I should claim it but she didn''t think I would get it. I don't know why but it was due to my boyfriend being a student I think.

Please, please can someone tell me if this is right and if not, what I can claim? Am seriously worried so please, please help.

Thanks

tink_the_stink

Best thing to do it get the number for a Contact Centre 0800 0556688, this is the number that our local office gives out but unsure if its a national number, make your claim ove the phone (you will have to declare your partner because you live together), attend your interview & then let the processing team make the decision.

If you can't get any JSA because you've not paid enough into the system you could still get your contributions paid as long as your willing to sign on every fortnight & look for work, which I'm sure your doing.

You can also apply for help with your rent & council tax if can't get JSA because your only income would be his course loans/grant/bursary.

Good luck sorry you had a hard time, we're not all like that at Jobcentres :rolleyes:

mcc28_x

I can't remember the exact criteria but as you've already been advised you should apply for income based JSA. You may need an exemption form for your partner JSA6 (from available and seeking criteria).

If you don't try you won't get...

ANonnyMouse_2

Thank you so much for your help I know a lot of the people who work there are very nice - it just makes me cross when people are unneccessarily mean- I deal with loads of horrid people in my job but I am still nice to them (and do at least an hour of unpaid OT a day to make sure they get a good result).

If I can get HB and Council tax allowance, I guess we shouldn't be too bad.

Just one more question - if I sign on and am not entitled to any money(whic is obviously going to be quite likely), am I still "on" JSA? and therefore would my NI be paid and I could get the money towards interview clothes etc?

Thanks again for all your help.

healy

ANonnyMouse wrote: »

Thank you so much for your help I know a lot of the people who work there are very nice - it just makes me cross when people are unneccessarily mean- I deal with loads of horrid people in my job but I am still nice to them (and do at least an hour of unpaid OT a day to make sure they get a good result).

If I can get HB and Council tax allowance, I guess we shouldn't be too bad.

Just one more question - if I sign on and am not entitled to any money(whic is obviously going to be quite likely), am I still "on" JSA? and therefore would my NI be paid and I could get the money towards interview clothes etc?

Thanks again for all your help.

Yes you could sign on for the NI credit only and you would have to meet the usual JSA requirements. I do not know about money towards interview clothes but hopefully someone else will.

mcc28_x

ADF - Adviser Discretion Funds
Qualifying criteria is 26 weeks continuous claim. Not sure without 2x checking guidance but I don't think NI credits count.