Help with Jobseekers' Allowance claim -tax reference number

jamesfisher1989

Hi,

I have recently finished university and so am putting in a claim for Jobseeker's Allowance until I find work. I have completed part of it online and have come to the bit asking for my 'tax district' and 'tax reference number.' I do not have these - having no correspondence from HMRC ever. Is there any way I can find these out?

Secondly, I am a bit confused about whether I put in a 'joint claim' or not with my girlfriend. We are moving in together soon, she is still at University for 3 years so will be a full time student, so she's not entitled to any Jobseeker's Allowance.
But as we are a couple living together do we put in a joint claim - I assumed that this was for two couples who are both Jobseekers, which she isn't due to being a student. She has savings of about £10000 so I'm a bit worried about how that might change things.

James

HappyMJ

If you don't have the information just skip the question. They can find that information from the HMRC if they really need it.

If you live with your "girlfriend" then you really should consider putting in a joint claim. If she does not live with you and you are just "going out" then put in a single claim.

dookar

If you wish to claim the income based element then it will have to be a joint claim, when you start living together.

jamesfisher1989

When doing it online it won't let me go forward without completing it.

Obviously I would have put in a single claim if I was living on my own, however like I said we are moving in together. So my question still stands: if I am the only person eligible for Jobseeker's Allowance should I put in a claim alone?

jamesfisher1989

Thanks. Bit worried about how her savings will affect this - apparently by as much as £16 a week Although being part of a couple will help with any Housing Benefit claim I suppose.

HappyMJ

jamesfisher1989 wrote: »

When doing it online it won't let me go forward without completing it.

Obviously I would have put in a single claim if I was living on my own, however like I said we are moving in together. So my question still stands: if I am the only person eligible for Jobseeker's Allowance should I put in a claim alone?

Then just do it over the phone. You claim as single when living by yourself then when you move in together you claim as a couple. Her being on the claim increases theamount you are entitled to but then her income reduces the payment due to the both of you.

jamesfisher1989 wrote: »

Thanks. Bit worried about how her savings will affect this - apparently by as much as £16 a week Although being part of a couple will help with any Housing Benefit claim I suppose.

I suppose you are young so would be entitled to 1 bedroom flat rather than a room in a shared house so you are right in having her on the claim is an extra benefit. Her income will affect the claim by as much as the JSA payment is. She would have student loans and grants which when divided out over the period of the course gives a weekly living allowance such as £70 a week for example. This will be deducted from your joint claim for JSA along with the capital deduction as well.

jamesfisher1989

Would rather do it online as I get charged quite a lot for 0800 numbers from my mobile. Tried phoning Friday but was on hold for ages.

epitome

AFAIK If she moves in you are unlikely to get any JSA IB anyway as she will be a full time student at university that will usually disqualify you from JSA.IB Esp if there are no children

If she has not yet moved in you will only put yourself on the form as you do not yet have a "partner". Bearing in mind the above, you may wish to reconsider her moving in with you.

Your tax district number and tax ref no. are to be found on a P60, P45 or payslip

Usually in the format ###/AA#####
# = number
A = letter

the first 3 ### is your district
the bit after / is your ref number

On a P45 it is the 3 ### found above your Nat Ins Number under "office"
The ref number is then in the box to the right of the office number.

On P60 you will find it as Employer PAYE reference

If you want to do the form online and you don't have these numbers just put in 000 and AA00000

HappyMJ

jamesfisher1989 wrote: »

Would rather do it online as I get charged quite a lot for 0800 numbers from my mobile. Tried phoning Friday but was on hold for ages.

Use a landline...or a phone box. Or go to the jobcentre and use the phones there. I'd rather do it online as well but if it isn't letting you past a certain point then forget it. The date you send the claim in any state even if half incomplete is the date your JSA starts. If you wait to send the HMRC a letter asking for the information you will lose money.

epitome

What mobile network is your mobile?

It's a free call from orange tmobile, asda, tesco, O2, 3, vodaphone, virgin. and some others but I can't be bothered to check

jamesfisher1989

epitome wrote: »

AFAIK If she moves in you are unlikely to get any JSA IB anyway as she will be a full time student at university that will usually disqualify you from JSA.IB Esp if there are no children

If she has not yet moved in you will only put yourself on the form as you do not yet have a "partner". Bearing in mind the above, you may wish to reconsider her moving in with you.

Surely not, they expect her income to cover both of us? I know people in the same situation and they do get support. I don@t know on what basis they could say a £70 a week student loan is enough for two.