Advice needed for my son, please.

Norman-B

My lad signed on today at the Job Centre. He went to the local office and was advised that he had to go away and phone for an appointment.
He phoned and gave all his details and was then asked if he wanted to claim for JSA or Income Support.
If he claimed JSA, he had to sign on every two weeks but if he claimed IS, he only signed on once.

As someone lucky enough to have never been out of work in 48 years, I've never had any dealings with the Benefit Agencies. So I was very surprised that he was 'asked' which benefit he wanted to claim! Surely that is not up to him? It seems that the sum claimed is the same.
Any advice re the above, please.

healy

Norman-B wrote: »

My lad signed on today at the Job Centre. He went to the local office and was advised that he had to go away and phone for an appointment.
He phoned and gave all his details and was then asked if he wanted to claim for JSA or Income Support.
If he claimed JSA, he had to sign on every two weeks but if he claimed IS, he only signed on once.

As someone lucky enough to have never been out of work in 48 years, I've never had any dealings with the Benefit Agencies. So I was very surprised that he was 'asked' which benefit he wanted to claim! Surely that is not up to him? It seems that the sum claimed is the same.
Any advice re the above, please.

He was asked which benefit he wanted to claim because as a single parent with a child of that age he can claim IS. He can as an alternative claim JSA but for that he has to sign on every 2 weeks and be looking and available for work.

axlmouth

Hi, sorry to hear about your son's situation. At least he has supportive parents, it must make the world of difference.

Wouldn't it be possible for him to claim JSA (now he has been dismissed they can't say that he left his job voluntarily, which is what they sometimes do) and then claim housing benefit to pay for the rent on the flat? It's true that he won't be brilliantly off, though there'd also be child benefit, but he may be waiting a while for another flat offer.

Amy

axlmouth

Sorry, just saw that they won't give him the flat. Ignore me.

Amy