(On behalf of friend) Parents claiming JSA

kelloggs36

Having no qualifications does not mean she can't work. Sure, she can't get work as a doctor but she could do shop work or cleaning work (to name but 2 things that she could do).

oldmotherreilly

book12-a couple claim is where there are children under the age of 18 and so one of the adults is not required to be available for work as it is deemed that they are able to stay at home to look after the children; a joint claim is where there are either no children involved or the children are 18 or over. So, in this case, your friend's mum, if she wishes to receive benefit, will be required to be looking for work. If she needs help with basic skills, the Jobcentre can help her to get onto a course for this-she needs to tell them when she attends the new claim interview if she does want this help.
The call centre will have already identified whether she needs to be looking for work or not and will have made her an appointment for an interview, probably at the same time as her husband. They will also have explained to her that she needs to be available for and actively seeking work.
Hope this answers your question

book12

oldmotherreilly wrote: »

book12-a couple claim is where there are children under the age of 18 and so one of the adults is not required to be available for work as it is deemed that they are able to stay at home to look after the children; a joint claim is where there are either no children involved or the children are 18 or over. So, in this case, your friend's mum, if she wishes to receive benefit, will be required to be looking for work. If she needs help with basic skills, the Jobcentre can help her to get onto a course for this-she needs to tell them when she attends the new claim interview if she does want this help.
The call centre will have already identified whether she needs to be looking for work or not and will have made her an appointment for an interview, probably at the same time as her husband. They will also have explained to her that she needs to be available for and actively seeking work.
Hope this answers your question

Thanks for your reply. Looks like it's a 'joint' claim then, as my friend's parents have children over the age of 18. I guess the mum needs to find work. The mum worked at a shop since the age of 18 then stopped in her 30's to get married, have children, be a housewife, etc... Now she's 52. Might be hard to find work at this age for her.

She was wondering how the basic skills training/course is like. The dad/husband don't need one, as he got a degree. I wonder if you could tell me more about it, so I could pass it on to her. Also, is it free?

I assume both of them need to go to the Job Centre for fortnightly sign-on's?

Also, the claim would go to one bank account, and not two right?

ALIBOBSY

As far as I understood the joint rules are only compulsary if one or more partner in a couple was born after 28th Oct 1957 so she may just come before that and be able not to have to seek work.

The money either way is paid into one account.

If he is older ie 60 or more pensioner credit may be easier to claim?

His application printout (which should come prior to his interview) should state what kind of claim it is.

Joint claim they both go in and sign each time, couple claim only he will need to attend after the first interview.
ali x

book12

ALIBOBSY wrote: »

As far as I understood the joint rules are only compulsary if one or more partner in a couple was born after 28th Oct 1957 so she may just come before that and be able not to have to seek work.

The money either way is paid into one account.

If he is older ie 60 or more pensioner credit may be easier to claim?

His application printout (which should come prior to his interview) should state what kind of claim it is.

Joint claim they both go in and sign each time, couple claim only he will need to attend after the first interview.
ali x

Mum is nearly 50, dad is in mid-50's. Both born after 1957.

I think they will be claiming income based of £100 according to the direct.gov website, as a 'couple'.

So basically on the fortnightly sign-on, the mum doesn't need to go?

I hope the ID I specified in my first post is suitable for the mum. Dad has suitable ID already.

fresian_cow

Hi

It sound like this would be a joint claim where both the mum and dad would have to go the jobcentre for at least the first appointment. From what I understand if mum is unwilling to look for work then she will have to sign something in the jobcentre regarding this and I think that it can affect the amount of benefit received. From my understanding the jobcentre's view (which you can see their point) is why should they pay benefit to a couple at the couple rate if one of them is able to work but is just choosing not to.

If mum is willing to work and look for work then they will both need to attend fortnightly sign on sessions as they will both have to demonstrate their jobseeking etc.

book12

fresian_cow wrote: »

Hi

It sound like this would be a joint claim where both the mum and dad would have to go the jobcentre for at least the first appointment. From what I understand if mum is unwilling to look for work then she will have to sign something in the jobcentre regarding this and I think that it can affect the amount of benefit received. From my understanding the jobcentre's view (which you can see their point) is why should they pay benefit to a couple at the couple rate if one of them is able to work but is just choosing not to.

If mum is willing to work and look for work then they will both need to attend fortnightly sign on sessions as they will both have to demonstrate their jobseeking etc.

The mum actually doesn't mind if she works or not. She's just worried that she won't be employable, as she hasn't worked for over 20 years, and has no 'recent' qualifications (only had 'old style GCSE' qualifications. I think they are called CSEs?).

I think it's a joint claim, as a poster posted about a 'joint' claim is where a both husband and wife have either no children or have children over the age of 18. Their children are in their 20's.

We will see how the initial interview goes next week, and will report back.

fresian_cow

Hope it goes alright for them. I don't think it's anyones place to say that the mum is unemployable. They might encourage her towards back to work qualifications or something like that to build her confidence and give her some skills or qualifications. As long as she can show she is willing and actively seeking work, then her past qualifications shouldn't have any bearing on the benefit claimed.

book12

Are the documents for the mum I mentioned in this thread ok (i.e. foreign birth certificate and UK marriage certiticate)? The birth certificate has both the foreign language and english translation. She plans to bring more than those two. Also, she might want to bring the certificate of of British citizenship.. I wonder if you guys can suggest some more documents to bring.

As said before, all UK photo ID has expired. Didn't renew, as there is no need for her to drive or travel. Going to bring it anyway incase they still want to see it.

System

As far as the Mum goes they should be able to arrange some form of training for her to help her get back into employment, some part time college course would be free if she was on JSA for example