Claiming JSA - Help!!

pocket_dragon_2

Hope someone can help!!

I was made redundant last September and went straight to college to study for a job that I have always wanted to do, so saw this as a positive!!

It is a full time course where I am there 3 days a week. I have not claimed any benefits as I was told by a job centre advisor that as the course was 16 hrs I was not entitled to any not even JSA for 26 weeks. I was told that I could claim this once I had finished my course which is what I have been waiting to do.

My husband is supporting me and paying all of the bills which is wonderful and I have been using the redundancy pay to get me through since last September.

I have worked for 24 years, and not been out of work till now. I was told tonight that if I wait till my course finishes in June before applying for any benefits and that is only if I don't get a job then I wouldn't get a penny anyway because it is a new tax year.

I don't know what's best, focus on my course so I can aim to get the best result possible or wait till June only to be told I can't get a thing anyway.

Can someone advise me please!!

sleepless_saver

pocket_dragon wrote: »

I have worked for 24 years, and not been out of work till now. I was told tonight that if I wait till my course finishes in June before applying for any benefits and that is only if I don't get a job then I wouldn't get a penny anyway because it is a new tax year.

I don't know what's best, focus on my course so I can aim to get the best result possible or wait till June only to be told I can't get a thing anyway.

It doesn't make any difference now if you wait until June. It's not as simple as tax years...
"Whether you are entitled to contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), depends on the National Insurance contributions you have paid over the last two complete tax years before the benefit year you make your claim in.
A benefit year starts in January (on the first Sunday of that month) and ends a year later." source: CAB

Why would you not focus on the course to get the best result possible? It's not that much longer to go.