Income based & contributions based JSA

Henrietta_Carrot

Hi all..............I need HELP!!

My husband has just been made redundant. He has chosen to claim contribution based JSA as I earn on average £500-600 per month working approx 19-25 hours per month.

BUT it seems as though we are now not entitled to free school meals for our 11 year old, free prescriptions, free eye tests etc (I don't know if there is anything else but this is all that seems applicable).

We have no savings......(but loads of debts!):o

Should he try to change the claim to income based? What are the benefits of contributions based?

We get our rent paid (private landlord) and council tax paid.

We are VERRRRRYYYYY confused!!

Hx

alwaysonthego_2

Hi, your husband will not be entitled to income based JSA due to your earnings so would only be entitled to cont based JSA.

Do you claim working tax and child tax credits? If you are on a low income and entitled to WTC you should get an excemption card for free dentist and eye tests.

If you have debts you should get debt advice from the CAB.

Henrietta_Carrot

alwaysonthego wrote: »

Hi, your husband will not be entitled to income based JSA due to your earnings so would only be entitled to cont based JSA.

Do you claim working tax and child tax credits? If you are on a low income and entitled to WTC you should get an excemption card for free dentist and eye tests.

If you have debts you should get debt advice from the CAB.

We only get child tax credit (£10 per week) and no working tax credit at all.

alwaysonthego_2

You need to inform tax credits of your change of circumstances asap. You will be entitled to more ctc and wtc. Try www.entitledto.co.uk but remember we are nearly at the end of the tax year.

Henrietta_Carrot

alwaysonthego wrote: »

You need to inform tax credits of your change of circumstances asap. You will be entitled to more ctc and wtc. Try www.entitledto.co.uk but remember we are nearly at the end of the tax year.

We informed them as soon as he got made redundant - mid December - and they actually decreased the amount by a few pence! I will try this website though - thanks very much

Hx

chez000

Contribution based JSA can be claimed when sufficeint national insurance contributions have been paid, it is payable for 6 months after which claimants move on to Income based JSA.

The advantage of contribution based JSA is that your partner can claim it independatnly of you.
After 6 months when he has to claim income based JSA this will need to be a joint claim, as you earn £500 - 600 p/.m I donnot think that you will be eligible for any JSA at all.

You will be entitled to more tax credits both working tax and child tax

chez000

Im surprised you get all your rent paid, did your partner mention that his partner (you) are working?
Im not wanting to sound judgemental, just that I am surprised that all of your housing costs are covered when you earn £500 -600 p/.m, if it was a mistake then they will at some point (could be years away) realise and they will then pursue you/partner for the overpayment.
Might be worth visiting you nearest CAB for a full benfit check / debt advice

alwaysonthego_2

chez000 wrote: »

Im surprised you get all your rent paid, did your partner mention that his partner (you) are working?
Im not wanting to sound judgemental, just that I am surprised that all of your housing costs are covered when you earn £500 -600 p/.m, if it was a mistake then they will at some point (could be years away) realise and they will then pursue you/partner for the overpayment.
Might be worth visiting you nearest CAB for a full benfit check / debt advice

It is quite possible that the op is getting all her rent paid through LHA as she is on a very low income.

p.s in your previous post you are repeating what I have already mentioned earlier on in this thread.

Henrietta_Carrot

chez000 wrote: »

Im surprised you get all your rent paid, did your partner mention that his partner (you) are working?
Im not wanting to sound judgemental, just that I am surprised that all of your housing costs are covered when you earn £500 -600 p/.m, if it was a mistake then they will at some point (could be years away) realise and they will then pursue you/partner for the overpayment.
Might be worth visiting you nearest CAB for a full benfit check / debt advice

The housing benefit/council tax claim form was completed fully and honestly. I can't imagine how they could have got it wrong unless they lost a page of the application form.......

alwaysonthego_2

Henrietta_Carrot wrote: »

We informed them as soon as he got made redundant - mid December - and they actually decreased the amount by a few pence! I will try this website though - thanks very much

Hx

possibly because we are nearly at the end of the tax year. They should go up in April.

Henrietta_Carrot

alwaysonthego wrote: »

It is quite possible that the op is getting all her rent paid through LHA as she is on a very low income.

p.s in your previous post you are repeating what I have already mentioned earlier on in this thread.

The local authority pay the rent & council tax