Question regarding JSA claims

milliebear00001

Another poster on another thread has just posed an interesting (to me) question! I don't know the answer and can't find it, so hoping one of you good people will.

Scenario is that this individual is the sole earner, becomes redundant from job and needs to claim benefits. It is my understanding that he must claim contributions based JSA, which would disbar him from many of the other 'gateway', means-tested benefits - particularly help with mortgage interest payments.

His question is whether his wife could not simply claim income-based JSA instead (simply stating that her husband is unemployed) thus becoming eligible for extra 'couples' payment via JSA, and all the other gateway benefits, including help with mortgage interest.

Any problems with that scenario?

fresian_cow

When he calls to go through the claim form they will take his details and do an eligibilty check. If both are not working then he will come up as eligible for JSA income based. They then could put in for help with mortgage interest but I believe there is a 12/13 week waiting period for that. When claiming income based they would have to give information on any other income/savings they both have.

milliebear00001

So he wouldn't have to claim contributions based - effectively, he would get the choice? I ask because when my OH and I were in the same situation some years ago, we were told my husband had to claim contributions based JSA, rather than income based.

Tehya

Hi, if it's similar to ESA they actually pay both, my hubby gets contribution based ESA but they top it up based on our other income (which is just Carer's Allowance and DLA). On our ESA award it states we get both too so we get all the pass-ported benefits i.e full rent, CT, NHS vouchers etc.

The husband would be awarded contribution based JSA, which is the same amount a single person gets but because he's part of a couple they'll top it up with income based so like us will then qualify for the other things.