New Claim for JSA/ CTB: help organising everything please

Fire_Fox

I will be unemployed from Monday due to a contract ending. I have fairly well controlled mental health issues (stress, depression, insomnia ) so feeling a bit overwhelmed and need to get organised this weekend. I know it makes me sound really useless but can anyone help me get my head around what I have to do please?

I have downloaded the CTB forms from the council website, but it doesn't seem to say where I go to hand them in!! Does my claim start the day the council receive the completed forms in or when I hand in all the documents as well? The council website says I have to supply original documents but presumably I have to do the same for the JSA claim and there will be overlap? Can they photocopy the documents and return them immediately?

I need to provide all my current and savings account statements but my main current account is online only, do I have to pay for bank statements? As it is the start of the month I just got paid and all my bills go out next week, do they take that into account?

For the JSA claim is the best thing to do ring up the freephone number or go to the Jobcentre and get some forms? Is the JSA or the CTB claim the more important or more complicated to organise, so I'd be best doing first? Is there anything else I need to know about what I need to do, or how the process works? Do I have appointments for both CTB and JSA and how long does that usually take to get organised?

Thanks for your patience!

fluffymovie

Hi there

A lot of questions and so I hope i can help with one bit and then someone will come along for the other bits!

Council Tax benefit claim will usually start from the Monday following the date that you hand in your claim form. This would mean, if you hand it in on Monday, your claim wouldn't start until the following Monday.

The council should have the address on the website and if you go there on Monday, it is likely you will be able to see someone who can copy your doucments.

Equally, if you contact the Jobcentre (I think you can claim on line now), they will ask you if you want to claim Council tax Benefit and then send an application form called an LAID (Local Authority Information Document) to the council on your behalf.

I would suggest that you e-mail the council this weekend and state that you wish to claim CTB from Monday next week and could they treat the e-mail as your intention to claim. Then contact JCP and make a claim for JSA and make sure they ask you if you want to claim Council Tax benefit.

If you claim via the JCP first, they will confirm all your ID etc so you may not need to provide this to the council but you may still need to provide your most recent 2 months bank statements depending on what type of JSA you are awarded.

A lot of things to think about but I wish you the best of luck

tboo

Hi
All documents handing in or posted to the LA will be returned a day or two after receiving them
You can print off a statement covering 2 mths for your main bank account, just let the LA know that it is an on - line account. If the LA do want something from the bank then ask the bank for a non chargeable statement
The job centre claim is the most important and a lot of the info provided to them is given to the LA to assess CTB, but to avoid any delay you can give the LA ID, bank statements etc while you wait for JSA to be awarded

Fire_Fox

Thanks to you both, it is helping me get my head around it all.

I have sent the online e-mail to the CT department as you suggested, I would drop off the forms over the weekend but I still have no idea where to take them! I really can't see it on the website (Bradford), so think I will be getting a lot of exercise on Monday ... I know where the payment offices are, where the enquiry office is and where the main council offices are.

I will print off bank statements on Monday when some of the payments will have gone out: I still have a cheque for ground rent outstanding, but it can't be helped. I don't think I want to apply for JSA online as some people said their claims went missing.

dmg24

Hi Fire Fox,

They will normally expect you to apply for JSA online, but you can also call them. Alternatively, if your MH issues stop you from doing this, they can send you a form (but you may have to push them to do this!).

Your LA's enquiry office should be able to photocopy the documents for you. As others have said you can do your whole application from the JCP, but I find it is more efficient if you do them separately.

I find that making a list helps me when I have lots to do - focuses the mind and gives a sense of achievement when you are able to cross things off!

tboo

Hi Fire Fox
May be of help maybe not
http://www.bradford.gov.uk/bmdc/health_well-being_and_care/benefits/benefits_contact_details.htm

Fire_Fox

Thanks again. :T

DMG24 my mental health issues won't stop me from phoning anyone, just put it in the OP to explain I know I am probably worrying about nothing. TBoo I found that page but managed to miss the fact that it said postal address at the bottom, doh!

Fire_Fox

I have been on the phone for an hour this morning starting my claim for JSA and I am booked in tomorrow at the Jobcentre! :j

It's going to be a nightmare getting all the paperwork together, they want all sorts of information about the service charges (in dispute for three years) and and ground rent on the flat (newly in dispute). The freeholder is an amateur so his invoices don't match the format prescribed by law.

And just to confuse matters there have been several large transactions today moving money from one bank account to another in order not to leave things overdrawn or bounce cheques, and £1K is lost in the ether. Think they will have fun with that ...

Anyway I do feel better for having it all started off, thanks for the advice.