Jobseekers income or contribution based?!?

Supersaver5

Hi,

Both my husband and I have been made redundant. We rang job centre up 3 times and they said that my husband was entitled to jsa income and contribution based and that I would be a depedent on his claim. We have savings over 10000, but less than 16000 and so did not qualify for much. When he went to the job centre to sign on, he was told that I should have claimed jsa contribution based, as it worked out to be more and that my NI would be made. He was told that if we are both claiming jsa contribution based, we are not entitled to income based? I'm confused?!?!
If we are both claiming jsa contribution based, would we get help with out mortgage, reduced course, council tax benefit? Or are these just for income based.
Please help...

Thanks,

NASA_2

If you arent on Income related then the fringe benefits arent available so you wont get help with mortgage costs etc.

You can both claim Conts. Only and will receive more money coming in but it may well be worth having less coming in if it means you have less going out because you get help with the mortgage.

ovenreadywombat

Jsa contribution based benefit is paid if you meet the national insurance qualifying criteria.
Mainly, paid your full NI contributions in the last 2 tax years.
This is paid for 6 months, then stops and you have to apply for Income Based JSA. This is a means tested benefit.
You should have made a joint claim at the start, if you both became unemployed at the same time.
You cannot live as a couple and have two separate claims for JSA.
As regards the Council Tax benefit, you can make an application for CT benefit when you make your application for JSA.
The agent who took your claim should have asked if you wanted to apply for CT benefit. Then your hubby would have had to
answer questions relating to your accomodation arrangements.
If you have any children and you claim working tax credit you should inform the Inland Revenue, of a change of circumstances as well.

NASA_2

ovenreadywombat wrote: »

You cannot live as a couple and have two separate claims for JSA.

You can if they are both JSA(C).

Supersaver5

Thank-you for your replies. It sounds like Income-based JSA might be the best way to go for us. Despite the fact that we would get £128 (64 x 2) for two Contribution based allowances versus £100 (or £80 due to our savings) for my husbands Contribution AND income based, 13 weeks down the line we would not get mortgage relief.

If we went with income based JSA, would both our NI contributions be paid? Also, we have income protection insurance, can we still get an income based allowance?

Also - another question! Can you claim Council Tax relief and Child Tax if we are both on Contribution based only?

Oldernotwiser

Supersaver5 wrote: »

If we went with income based JSA, would both our NI contributions be paid? Also, we have income protection insurance, can we still get an income based allowance?

?

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong but I think that any money you get from income protection insurance will be counted as income and affect means tested benefits.