Changing from IS to JSA

pizzle84

I posted earlier about IS changing at somepoint. I got a letter today saying "the rules for lone parent claiming IS is changing on 31st Oct 2011" (2 weeks away!!!) it goes on to say "we will be giving you work focused interviews every 3 months instead of every 6 months" So will i still keep getting IS or will i get changed to JSA??

Thanks

Oldernotwiser

How old is your youngest child?

pizzle84

My son turned 4 in july.

AsknAnswer2

You will remain on IS.

cosmic-dust

Income Support rules for lone parents



The rules about which lone parents are eligible to claim Income Support are changing.

From October 2011 a lone parent’s youngest child must be under school age to be eligible to claim Income Support.

The maximum age from October 2010 was 7 years old. This change means that from October 2011 lone parents will be moved onto Jobseeker's Allowance rather than Income Support when their child goes to school. Lone parents currently getting Income Support with children at school will transfer from April 2012.




http://www.hlp.entitledto.co.uk/viewhelp.aspx?sid=13&helpfile=IncomeSupportRulesLoneParents

iwill

is it the age of the child or whether they go to school or not as some children can be as young as just 4 when they start school depending on when their birthday is as a friend is trying to find this out as their daughter was 4 in august but started school in september

pmlindyloo

Found this:

Compulsory school age

Starting school

In England and Wales, most local authorities have a policy of accepting children into school at the beginning of the term during which the child becomes five. However, the child does not have to attend school until the beginning of the term following their fifth birthday.
In Northern Ireland, a child who is four years old on or before 1 July in any year must start primary school on 1 September that year.
In England, from the school year beginning September 2011, local authorities must accept children into primary school in the September following the child's fourth birthday. However, parents may request that their child does not start school until later in the year or until reaching compulsory school age. A parent will also be able to request that a child attends school part-time until compulsory school age. (CAB - Adviceguide)

My understanding is that most(there are some exceptions) lone parents on IS will change to JSA when there child starts school.

However, a child does not have to start school until the term after their 5th birthday.

The decision when the child starts school is entirely up to the parent.

Since the OP's child was 4years old in July it is likely that he will already have started school.

pmlindyloo

I was very interested in this particular question so asked our local welfare and benefits specialist at CAB.

She said that lone parents on IS will change to JSA when their child reaches the age of 5. She said that this was the only practical way for it to be done.

Thought this might help some people who are in the throes of this changeover.

rhodesRocks

Great news, five years of free housing and substinence should set people up great ready for getting a job.