Is there any point trying to make a claim?

pukka18

I was doing a university course (nursing) and graduated in December. I was obviously very busy with hospital work during the course and did not have a job.

I was wondering if I'd be entitled to Jobseekers or anything. But I just saw that if you have savings over 16k you're not entitled! I have this money because of my mother's death when I inherited it.

Will they turn me away because I have "not worked" in paid, taxable employment?

I feel like I'm left to free-fall into financial oblivion, my London flat is expensive and all the bills are difficult to pay for. All I can see online is that I get nothing! Am I supposed to wait for all the money to go *!!!!!!* into thin air? This is not what my mother would have wanted as she worked hard all of her life for this!

Any advice?

sulkisu

And benefits are supposed to be a safety net for those who have no other means of support. This clearly doesn't apply to you. Or do you think that the tax-payer (of which I am one) should support you while your money sits in the bank? If your flat is too expensive, find a cheaper one. And if you have more than £16000 - which you seem to be saying - I can't see how your bills are difficult to pay. You have graduated so there's no reason why you can't work now, so it's not as if you will have to live off of your inheritance money for ever.
It can tide you over in the meantime - as it should.

dmg24

Eighteen months ago the OP was getting £3,000 a year in interest, so I assume they have well over £16,000.

DX2

pukka18 wrote: »

I was doing a university course (nursing) and graduated in December. I was obviously very busy with hospital work during the course and did not have a job.

I was wondering if I'd be entitled to Jobseekers or anything. But I just saw that if you have savings over 16k you're not entitled! I have this money because of my mother's death when I inherited it.

Will they turn me away because I have "not worked" in paid, taxable employment?

I feel like I'm left to free-fall into financial oblivion, my London flat is expensive and all the bills are difficult to pay for. All I can see online is that I get nothing! Am I supposed to wait for all the money to go *!!!!!!* into thin air? This is not what my mother would have wanted as she worked hard all of her life for this!

Any advice?

No they will turn you away because your savings are a little on the high side to qualify for any means tested benefits.

seven-day-weekend

You may be eligible for some Benefits when your savings get below £16k, and full help when they get down to under £6k.

As for your mother working hard all her life for her savings, well that's what most of us do. We work hard and save 'for a rainy day'. When you have no money to live on and more than £16k in the bank - well it's raining, that is what your savings are for.

When you get a job you can replenish your savings.

Oldernotwiser

I would think that, with your mother's work ethic, she would be happy that her daughter didn't have to rely on benefits for this period.

I cannot believe that a qualified nurse, living in London, can't get some agency or care work.

pukka18

We all need a safety net regardless of our bank account status. Not every benefit is means tested ie, contributions based JSA.

It was a simple question, you would want to protect your savings if you were me as well. In fact, by being on this website, you obviously do. I saw on the government website that they review it case-by-case. It's not like I've never worked.

Never mind, shouldn't have bothered asking if that's the kind of reaction you get.

Jomo

pukka18 wrote: »

We all need a safety net regardless of our bank account status. Not every benefit is means tested ie, contributions based JSA.

It was a simple question, you would want to protect your savings if you were me as well. In fact, by being on this website, you obviously do. I saw on the government website that they review it case-by-case. It's not like I've never worked.

Never mind, shouldn't have bothered asking if that's the kind of reaction you get.

We'd all be rich if we didn't have to pay the tax that pays the benefits bill...and then you'd have no option but to spend your inheritance!

McKneff

I can understand you asking the question but i think youve got a bit of a cheek being so defensive when you get answers to your question.
Just because you dont like them doesnt make them any less true.

You should be sigining on anyway to get your NI credits to protect your any future benefits and your state pension.

healy

pukka18 wrote: »

We all need a safety net regardless of our bank account status. Not every benefit is means tested ie, contributions based JSA.

It was a simple question, you would want to protect your savings if you were me as well. In fact, by being on this website, you obviously do. I saw on the government website that they review it case-by-case. It's not like I've never worked.

Never mind, shouldn't have bothered asking if that's the kind of reaction you get.

Your savings are your safety net when comes to means tested benefits.

If your savings are over £16,000 you will not receive means tested benefits, there would be no need for a review of the case.

I cannot see anything wrong with the responses you have received.

redz

I would make a claim to JSA regardless. Even though your savings are over the 16k threshold you will still get credits towards your state pension.
grats on graduating BTW. You could try looking for work outside of your chosen profession until something more suitable to your qualifications comes up.