JSA and other benefits

recovering_spendaholic

I am an HR adviser and one of my clients' business failed a few months ago. I helped out and the employees got TUPE so were protected, however the business owner and his partner ended up with nothing but a pile of business debt. I have been trying to help them out with advice but they are not easy to advise.

They are mid fifties and went to the job centre at the beginning of August to sign on and have heard nothing since then, despite having been to sign on every two weeks and providing all the documentation required. The owner paid a full stamp so should be entitled to contributions based JSA and his partner (his wife) paid a reduced stamp so they have been told that they will be a joint claim,and should it be successful they will get £100 a week between them. When they ring up to enquire they are told that their claim is still with the decision maker.

I felt sure that they must be entitled to some sort of top up benefits as their only income will be £100 a week, and they have no savings and a mortgage. They reckon they are not entitled to anything but I am sure that this must be wrong. I have looked on the direct gov website but can't find anything. Is there anything they can claim (apart from council tax benefit which they have done today)? They have not illnesses or disabilities.

HappyMJ

They should get JSA. Whether it's income based or contributions based it should be the same. Income based is not taxable so would be the better choice. The mortgage interest will only be paid if the money initially advanced was used to buy the house or to make repairs. Any further advance on the mortgage for business purposes will not be paid. That will be after a waiting period applies.