housing benefit and benefit basics query, please help

dustinjames

hi, im 30 years old male, single.
Citizens advice told me that I am not entitled to any benefit if i undertake part time employement (10 to 15 hours). Is this true?
I rang up job centre helpline, and they said I would be able to get jobseekers allowance or ESA if i work under 16 hours.

Who is correct?

I am in danger of either losing my full time job or being forced to go part time in the near future. CAB implied that it would be kind of better if I was to lose my job all together, as when you work part time you get taxed more of somthing? eg £7 per hour becomes £5 in reality. And also part timers get no benefit help, in contrast to someone who loses his/her job fully, in which case they get full JSA, which is not much less than if you were working part time anyway. Can someone clear this confusion for me please?

Eg the pros and cons of being unemployed compared to being part time employed. Sounds like both parties get similar cash in pocket, but one has to work for it..?

Also housing benefit i think its called? Basically I am looking for a flat at the moment, but am nervous about my job situation, so dont knw what will happen if i can not afford the rent a few months down the line.
Is housing benefit something that I would be eligable for? How is it assessed?

Thankyou for any help given.

dmg24

For JSA, anything you earn over £5 is deducted pound for pound. However, if you are working up to sixteen hours you can still sign on for your NI Contributions to be credited.

You could be eligible for LHA if you are on a low income. If you enter some hypothetical figures at www.entitledto.co.uk this will give you an idea of your entitlement.

dustinjames

thanks.
that entitedto checker, is asking for answers i have absolutely no idea about.

So i would get JBA as part timer? Would i get income support?

Signing on for you NI contributions, whats this called? so this means you dont get taxed as much?

Is LHA the same for people, whther they are unemployed or working part time or unemployed?

dmg24

entitledto is very simple - what answers are you having problems with?

You will not get IS. Please see my previous answer regarding JSA.

NI Conts count towards your pension, they do not lower your tax liability.

LHA depends on your income. You can find out the amount you may be eligible for on entitledto.

dustinjames

thanks.
council tax, ive never paid it so have no idea how much it is.

But ive read IS criteria, i tick all them boxes.

JSA: so if earn £6 per hour, its really £5 i get?

LHA: oh so more you earn, less is the LHA,
and the less you earn/take home (whether working or from benefits) the more is the LHA.
right?

dmg24

Are you disabled? If not, how do you think you qualify for IS?

dmg24

dustinjames wrote: »

JSA: so if earn £6 per hour, its really £5 i get?

No, the first £5 per week that you earn is disregarded. Anything over that is deducted from your JSA amount. So if you earn £50 per week, £45 will be deducted from your JSA amount.

dustinjames wrote: »

LHA: oh so more you earn, less is the LHA,
and the less you earn/take home (whether working or from benefits) the more is the LHA.
right?

Yes, that is correct.

dustinjames

dmg24 wrote: »

Are you disabled? If not, how do you think you qualify for IS?

no im not disabled.

but ive read the criteria for income support and theres no mention of disabled. (direct.gov website)

dmg24

dustinjames wrote: »

no im not disabled.

but ive read the criteria for income support and theres no mention of disabled. (direct.gov website)

Can you link to the page you are looking at? You cannot post full links but if you put a space after each . it should let you do it.

dustinjames

"No, the first £5 per week that you earn is disregarded. Anything over that is deducted from your JSA amount. So if you earn £50 per week, £45 will be deducted from your JSA amount."

so if i work 15 hours per week at £6 per hour.
what do i actually take home?

so you are saying i CAN claim JSA if i work part time....
how much is JSA? same as ESA?

dustinjames

dmg24 wrote: »

Can you link to the page you are looking at? You cannot post full links but if you put a space after each . it should let you do it.

google this
"income support"

its the first on the list....