confused over JSA

DaisyChainMaker

Ok I know Im blonde and easily confused but I am hoping someone can explain my pickle with JSA and give me some advice.

My job was made redundant on 15 April this year and I filled out a claim for JSA. Because I had been working and getting working/child tax credits I was told I would continue getting all my tax credits for four weeks. Which I did.

Now this is where Im confuzzled...

My four week run-on of tax credits ran out on 13 May. I have informed JSA and I have been signing on every two weeks with them as requested.

I received a letter saying I wasn't entitled to JSA from 15 April as I had too much income (fair enough as I was still getting tax credits) but that I also had not paid enough NI contributions.

I phoned the office and was told that when my tax credits finished I my claim would then be active.

hmmm.... despite signing on again this Tuesday and not getting working tax credits now (only still getting child tax credits for my daughter) I have still not received any payments from JSA.

Luckily I got my child benefit early today, and I get paid this four weekly otherwise I wouldn't have any money for the weekend and next week for bus fares.

Luckily, I start a new job :j next Wednesday (1st June) so can look forward to tax credits again weekly to live on and of course a salary at the end of the month.

What should I do about the JSA? Should I just forget about it as starting another job next week as I would only be entitled to a couple of weeks benefit, or would I not be entitled to anything anyways?

See told you I was easily confuzzled :rotfl:

suelees1

No don't forget about it. It sounds like you will have become entitled to this payment as soon as your 4 week wtc run on expired. It's the Jobcentre which needs to get it's finger out and pay you.

You should also have been entited to more housing benefit (if you rent) plus council tax benefit.

Congratulations with your new job

DaisyChainMaker

Thank you sue for your answer. Housing and council tax benefits have been sorted .. thank goodness so no money owed there. Until I start work of course and they want payment before I've been paid lol. Will give the job centre another call then and see what's happening.

.... hmm ok phoned them and was told I am still on a nil assessment as they say I have too much income still with tax credits. I only get child tax credits now for my daughter so I'm sure that can't be right. They have said they will phone me back as another department deals with it. Grrrr more confusion. I am just glad I have got another job already otherwise I would really be worrying and in a pickle.

suelees1

You'll be getting a call back because the person you spoke to would be in a contact centre anywhere in the country. If they can't resolve your query they email the section at your local Benefits Delivery Centre which is dealing with your claim and (in this area anyway) they ring you back within 3 hours. If they don't call you back ring again and tell them so they then put it through as an emergency and you should get a 1 hour call back !!

DaisyChainMaker

Thank you suelees .. .they did phone back but said that as their system still shows me as being in receipt of tax credits I wasn't entitled to anything.

So I pointed out that I only get child tax credits... and was told that there was nothing they could do unless I could prove I am no longer getting working tax credits.

Im ashamed to say that I grrrrrr at him, saying I had already phoned them last week, and tax credits and had given all the information they wanted. He said he needed written proof and asked me to contact tax credits again to obtain a letter from them that I could then forward to JSA. I grrrr again and hey ho... he said he would phone tax credits and ring me back.

Ten minutes later he phoned back and its all sorted:T and I should expect a payment in my bank account by tuesday next week.

Thank you for your advice. Im hoping its sorted now as I start work next Wednesday and at least I won't have to claim JSA anymore.

suelees1

Nice one. Best of luck in the job.

richard9991

DaisyChainMaker wrote: »

Thank you suelees .. .they did phone back but said that as their system still shows me as being in receipt of tax credits I wasn't entitled to anything.

So I pointed out that I only get child tax credits... and was told that there was nothing they could do unless I could prove I am no longer getting working tax credits.

Im ashamed to say that I grrrrrr at him, saying I had already phoned them last week, and tax credits and had given all the information they wanted. He said he needed written proof and asked me to contact tax credits again to obtain a letter from them that I could then forward to JSA. I grrrr again and hey ho... he said he would phone tax credits and ring me back.

Ten minutes later he phoned back and its all sorted:T and I should expect a payment in my bank account by tuesday next week.

Thank you for your advice. Im hoping its sorted now as I start work next Wednesday and at least I won't have to claim JSA anymore.

Doubt you will get a payment by tueday with a bank holiday in between more like wednesday or thursday.

DaisyChainMaker

richard9991 wrote: »

Doubt you will get a payment by tueday with a bank holiday in between more like wednesday or thursday.

Am gobsmacked... just checked my bank account again and the payment is in already. Isn't it lovely when things work out eventually. :T:j:beer: