Savings underreported - how to sort this out

mancmum

I'm helping someone who has made two claims for job seekers allowance in the first

First claim was made independently in summer and amount of around £20.00 per week was paid because of savings.

Then person signed off because went to seek work in Europe but did not find any.

Claimed again recently for three when returned from Europe for job interview for 3 weeks but no benefit paid because savings amount was too high ...over 16,000.

I've only got some of the paperwork and was not involved in the first claim but am wondering why there is a such a difference because there hasn't been any substantial change in savings.

Its possible that because they had part time work that the summer claim was counted against tax years when they had sufficient contributions of NI to justify a small payment. I have some distant memory of you jumping entitlement years when you make a second claim for job seekers.

As far as I can see the possible scenario is that

1. First decision was in error by the Job Centre.
2. First decision was based on under reported savings and claimant is in the wrong.
3. The decision was correct and entitlement was there in 2010 but not there when second claim was made in 2011.

Basically, the person would not have wanted to cheat. I know they took banks statements etc with them to first claim but they could easily have left some of the relevent paperwork at home. Its a young person.

If they have made a false claim can they go back and pay the money back quickly in that the decision on this second claim has only just revealed the 'mistake' in the first claim.

I know its difficult for anyone to give an opinion. Total amount received in claim payments must be less than £200.00 and its just not worth doing the wrong thing for that sort of sum.

How would Job Centre treat someone going back to them within a single tax year and saying they thought they had accidentally overclaimed.

In trying to do the right thing might someone just end up with a criminal record.

mancmum

Minor: addition when I said the person had part time work. I mean the person had part time work from periood summer 2007-2009 not that they had part time work when they made the claim.

-BA-

I must confess I can't remember what the threshold is for savings but did believe it to be around £16k. Perhaps his/her savings had been below the threshold when the first claim went through but may have risen (granted only slightly) to take him/her over the threshold?

Perhaps the period abroad has impacted on the eligibility for a claim too?

Indie_Kid

-BA- wrote: »

I must confess I can't remember what the threshold is for savings but did believe it to be around £16k. Perhaps his/her savings had been below the threshold when the first claim went through but may have risen (granted only slightly) to take him/her over the threshold?

Perhaps the period abroad has impacted on the eligibility for a claim too?

The lower limit is £6k. The upper limit is £16k.

-BA-

sh1305 wrote: »

The lower limit is £6k. The upper limit is £16k.

That would suggest to me then that if OP's friend had savings of between £6k and £16k when they last claim, it would explain the reduced rate of JSA that was paid.

If savings have subsequently risen above £16k then that would explain the rejection of the claim.

Only surmising of course.

Incyder

mancmum wrote: »

How would Job Centre treat someone going back to them within a single tax year and saying they thought they had accidentally overclaimed.

Best not to find out. If the job centre are not asking questions then why cause a problem when there isn't one. :cool: