JSA - Was i entitled?

rastus123

Hey guys,
I’m looking for some advice regarding Job Seekers Allowance and whether I am/ have been entitled to it.
I started a college course in September 2011 with the aim of passing it and progressing to university this month. However at the beginning of this year I was diagnosed with a medical condition that meant I experienced frequent short term memory loss, this disrupted the college course no end and made it noticeably more difficult. Although I eventually passed the course, after finishing college I decided that the reality was I’d probably struggle with remembering the amount of information I’d be required to in order to complete a degree, so I decided instead to look for employment and to defer entry to university for a year which would give me a chance to pay off some debts that I have, while also hoping that the memory loss would improve.
I started claiming JSA at the end of June and in the interview at the Job Centre I stated that I had just finished a college course and was hoping to work for a year and then go to university in 2013. Over the past few months I have been painfully searching for work in an area with the highest unemployment in the country and had very little success. I am concerned that the ‘gap year’ I intended to take to pay off debts would end up being a gap year of scraping through while depending on benefits, which is the last thing I want to do. With this in mind came to the decision that it’s in my best interests to accept the offer I was made for university and to just hope that the short term memory loss doesn’t hinder my progress too much.
That left me in a difficult position when signing off at the Job Centre. I wanted to be totally honest with them about the whole situation but I was worried that they’d think that I knowingly and dishonestly submitted a claim for support I was not entitled to, and I certainly don’t want to end up with a benefit fraud conviction on my record, so for that reason I shamefully had to lie to the advisor, telling him I was starting work shortly.
Before this summer I had never claimed JSA before purely out of principle, even when I was out of work for 6 months. I only claimed on this occasion because it was unfair to depend on others to support me while I was turning down benefits that were in place for people in my situation. Ideally I’d like to pay all the money back and forget I ever claimed but as I said above I cannot risk getting convicted for benefit fraud.
In a nutshell I’m hoping that somebody would clarify whether I was entitled to JSA during that period because I was actively searching for work. And if I was not entitled, is there any way I would be able to pay this back without risk of conviction.
Many thanks
D

spendaholic66

I think the best thing to do would be to be honest with your advisor. Or, just tell them that you haven't had any luck looking for a job and so have decided that the best thing is to continue on to university.

princessdon

Yes - you were entitled

good luck with your course. Please ask the Uni about DSA funding and see if they can help keep you on track, they can help with equipment and support depending on your condition.

Dunroamin

Don't worry, you were entitled and would have been if university entry this month had always been your intention.

Good luck.