Can JSA help in moving to a different city

natureza

Pretty much as in the title of the topic.

I've been on JSA for the last 3 months, before that I've been looking for work actively for last 6-8 months - quite honestly I lost track by now.

I intend on moving to a different city and I am trying to explore different financial help options that could be available to me to make the move an easier task.

So here is my question - being on JSA, is there any option or service that I can use/claim that would help me in covering the cost of the move?

The town I live in currently has almost no jobs available for my expeirence/education and the destination city seem a much better option - I am trying to get a job before I make the move, but having a rather small budget, I'm afraid I'll need a bit of a help.

While I am asking specificly for what is available via JSA, maybe someone knows of any other options that are available in my situation - that would hopefully not include a bank loan with ridiculous interest rate

Many thanks for your time folks

HappyMJ

You could get a small discretionary payment if you have absolutely no money of your own. The hassle I went through just to get £50 was not worth it I doubt you will get much more than that.

missapril75

Have a look here for budgeting loans

You need to be on JSA for 26 weeks (so a bit of time to go yet) and it must be the income based version.

It's a loan but at least interest free.

Try to make your move coincide with getting your normal JSA so that gives the maximum time and the best chance of getting the next one without delay.

natureza

My next signing day is on wednesday so I'll ask them straight away if I'm eligible for the budgeting loan - I think I should be.

missapril75

natureza wrote: »

My next signing day is on wednesday so I'll ask them straight away if I'm eligible for the budgeting loan - I think I should be.

Remember that it's 26 weeks on JSA (income based) and not 26 weeks of unemployment. You might already have paperwork confirming this.

If you have been signing 26 weeks, there's probably a restart (or whatever the name is now) interview coming up. That in itself might get you the sort of grant HappyMJ mentions - although that is supposed to be work related - tools, work clothing, mobile phone for contact etc.

Be sure the move is an improvement. If you move to a flat where the rent is more than Housing Benefit (LHA), meeting the shortfall and repaying the loan might be impossible (although asking for a lower repayment rate than originally agreed later on is okay).

Any loan still to be repaid will massively affect your chances of getting another - even for a different reason - later on so you need to get this decision right.

natureza

I am trying to cover all bases and I'll try to stall the move as long as I can.

The initial idea is to scout the new city, meet a few people, get the CV's handed all over the place and use whatever connections I've got to secure a job prior to a new flat. Prefferably get both at around the same time.

I've got only 1.5h of commute between the two towns via bus, so I'm only crossing fingers that whatever the job I'll get will match the bus times.
If not - that's why I'm looking for additional funds that might be available to me so that I can afford moving in to a flat/shared house on a relatively short notice.

missapril75

So it's sort of a reserve fund then.

Have a look at the form

At part 3 it asks how much and to tick a box.

Rent in advance/removals is your best option.

The others relating to expenses would normally be lower amounts as they'd relate to one off expenses.

So just tick the rent/moving option (because that is what you're looking to achieve) and put your amount in. As the form says, no other details needed.

If it all goes well, you can pay the balance still owing off more quickly when in work. You never know when you might need it again and it's always less likely to happen when you still owe something.

natureza

Many thanks for the tips, crossing fingers it'll all work out now