JSA - no news

raq

I am currently claiming JSA contribution based and desperately looking for work and my husband has recently been layed of work. We rang the JSA hotline who where very helpful run through everything with us and slotted him in for a short interview with the job centre last Monday. He had a card to say to sign on the end of this week. So far so good I would say. One thing though I thought he would have a letter first to confirm he is entitled to JSA contribution based. He has worked for 16 years in total and never claimed. Also we have 3 children.

Are we worrying over nothing here ?? very tight at the moment what with having no salary and only the children's ctc plus my jsa. We don't claim housing benefit as it is our property

Any advice would be very much appreciated
thanks

emilie03

the letter will follow his first sign date, they set a target of 10-14 days, they need to check with ex employee etc, dont worry.

raq

thanks for the info, although we have no worries and gave them more than enough information what do they check then with the employees and other bits of paperwork that they took photocopies of.??

emilie03

just to confirm with employee why u left?- final salary/ etc-if u left of your own accord etc... if holiday pay paid- 2 weeks etc/ u will not be elgiable for benefit for holiday period, but you continue to sign as normal.

paperwork photocopys are for there records and to confirm payments that will be due,

Ely_2

Raq, is there some reason why you're claiming contribution-based JSA & not income-based, have you got lots of savings? If you claim income-based JSA you can also try and claim council tax benefit and help with mortgage payments. Even if you claim contribution-based JSA you can still try & make a claim for council tax benefit.

Haven't you had any leaflets about things you can claim? You could also go on the Jobcentre website.

Obviously I don't know your circumstances so it's difficult to give advice. Your Jobcentre should be giving you the best advice depending on your circumstances or alternatively go to the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Hope this helps.

raq

ELy,

thanks for the info. No savings what so ever and I think I can remember the job centre stating last week that it would be "Income based", also meaning only one of us have to sign on". Is that correct ?? Rang the council today for a change of circumstances form as I believe we can have a reduction on our council tax. Can't think of much else.

Yet again thanks for the info

rachnbri

You get contribution based JSA for 26 weeks (assuming you've paid up to date NI conts) when that runs out you'd get income based. If you have no other income, savings etc you should be able to claim council tax benefit straight from the council. Mortgage help only kicks in after you've been claiming for 39 weeks.
Only one of you has to sign because you have dependant children.

babyboo42

Hi just checking but you have told the tax credits about your new circumstances haven't you?I don't know how old your children are but have you looked in to free school meals?

Ely_2

Raq, I would strongly suggest that you go to the Citizens Advice Bureau asap as they can do a full check to see if you are claiming everything you should. The Jobcentre don't seem to be telling you all you can claim.

I believe it is correct that only one of you has to sign if you have dependent children, but you should still be able to claim the couple's allowance.

I don't think you necessarily have to get cont-based JSA first if you have no income or savings. It seems from what you say you are on income-based??

When you completed the form, were there questions about your mortgage? If so, then the Jobcentre should send you a letter advising how long you have to wait to claim. I believe it depends on when you took your mortgage out. (IS8 is the information sheet on this).

Don't delay, do it today. Best of luck!

raq

thanks everyone.

Update..

Had a letter this morning from Jobseekers allowance stating my husband isn't entitled to anything jsa. ?? Totally thrown me. Rang them first thing and they informed me going by the body of the letter that my husband has contributed enough stamp. Crazy he had worked for the same question for over 9 years but worked for the last 16. Never claimed before. Jobcentre did also state my husband will still have to sign on next week as this is paying towards his "STAMP" until he finds employment. No money from this though.

Yes we have got three small children but where do I go from here. ?? The local job centre did say to ring the inland revenue direct line. How you suppose to survice on NOTHING until my husband gets job. I have also rang T.Credits who informed me they will update the system but couldn't give me a figure over the phone.

Any advice would be great as I don't know who to ring first.

Thanks

raq

another update.

Just rang our local jobcentre again , spoke to a very helpful chappy. Looks like there has been a typing error. Apparantely nothing was marked down to say where was my husband staying. i.e. is he renting the accomdation or mortgage. We told them this when we rang a couple of weeks ago. Any way he couldn't apologise enough and told me to call back in the morning and run through the claim again. Need to have our mortgage documents to hand. The only good news is that the claim isn't "CLOSED" and it is still "LIVE". He was 99.9% sure this is the reason why.

Fingers crossed for the morning. I do hope they don't take too long as we cannot survive without anything.

Will keep you all informed