signing on jobseekers with money in the bank?

postmanstan

So ive just finished uni and now Iv'e got to fend for myself, I have a little bit of savings but dont want to use it while looking for a job. I was wondering if the government can help. Here is the dilema, I have 1k in the bank, can I claim jobseekers allowance? or do I have to withdraw all my money in the bank and put it in the money pot pig?

also:
My partner is on jobseekers atm so would it be a joint claim? and if so whos bank account would it go into. I am older than her, so maybe it would transfer into my account?

we are living together, she recieves housing benifit. So should I inform the council first that I am living here, then claim jobseekers or vice versa. I ask because I dont want to get into trouble about rent

any advice is most appreciated

MrsBartolozzi

Your JSa is only affected if you have over £3k in savings.
I think it would be a joint claim if you live together, but I'll leave it to someone who knows to give you advice on that and the housing benefit issue.

fluffymovie

You should make a joint claim for Housing Benefit and if she hasn't told the council already, she needs to as it is Fraud to have someone living with you and not to declare it.

Savings of £1k would not stop you getting JSA but you should make a joint claim to Jobcentre as well.

AsknAnswer2

MrsBartolozzi wrote: »

Your JSa is only affected if you have over £3k in savings.
I think it would be a joint claim if you live together, but I'll leave it to someone who knows to give you advice on that and the housing benefit issue.

The threshold is £6000 before it is affected, not £3000. The threshold went up some time ago. It would only affect Income based JSA, not contributory based JSA.

OP, you need to inform the council that you are living there and claim JSA jointly with your partner. The money will go to whomever is named as the "claimant" on the claim form and will be paid into whatever account you specify, if you qualify.

Robertpeters

I have a friend who is claiming benefits. He has been claiming for around a year. He says that he has savings in various different accounts totalling around £40 000. He only has around £1000 in his current account which he has shown the jobcentre. He spends the amount he receives in benefits every month, so any credit spending matches up with his benefits.


He has not declared it to the jobcentre that he is in possession of any of the £40 000. I have told him that he is committing benefit fraud and that they (the jobcentre) as a government agency could cross check all his accounts and the amounts they have in it and catch him.

I just wanted to find out what the jobcentre can and can't see in terms of peoples bank account information since he says they have no way of seeing this information.
This is surely private information and will also help me to convince him of how to handle the situation.

If anyone knows anything about what the jobcentre can and can't see then I'd be interested in knowing.

Thanks.

AnxiousMum

how long have you been living together?

Robertpeters

we dont live together

fluffymovie

The Jobcentre can see financial information and I know that they match their records with ours (HB) to check on things like interest paid etc and flag to us if they think it is wrong.

Our investigators have powers to look at credit checks, financial records, loan agreements, sky details etc.

I would suggest that you contact the DWP (which you can do without giving your name) and inform them. Chances are he is also claiming Council Tax benefit on the basis of having no money and is clearly stealing tax payers money when he has the money to pay his own way.