JSA and CB for the same 18 year old?

BaffledMum

I posted this question in the Child Support forum but have had no response, so I'm hoping someone here will be able to help.

Can an 18 year-old who left college in June this year, and whose parent was claiming Child Benefit until the beginning of September, also be claiming Job Seeker's allowance for the period between the end of term and the and of the CB claim (31st August)?

I had a discussion about this with a woman from the Child Support Agency last week, who insisted that a person could be a Child for whom CB was payable, and an adult claiming JSA at the same time. She said that this was due to a recent change in the law, but couldn't tell me when it changed.

Does anyone know whether this is correct, or was she mistaken?

pmlindyloo

Mistaken according to the gov website.

Who is eligible for JSA?

To claim JSA you need to be actively looking for work and:

• over 18 but below State Pension age
• unemployed or working fewer than 16 hours per week
• living in England, Scotland or Wales

Under 18s: you can't get JSA, except in special circumstances. Follow the link below for more details.

Under 20s: you can't get JSA while you are in education and your parents are receiving Child Benefit for you. If they are, and you've left school or college this summer, wait until 3 September before applying for JSA (that's when the Child Benefit payments usually stop).

Full time students: you can't usually get JSA until your course has officially finished - check the date with your college or university.

RocketRobin

Definieteloy not a change I'm aware of, CB and JSA cannot both be in payment, claim for CB must be closed first.

Someone that works at CSA would neither be knowledgeable on a professional basis about CB or JSA so I would frankly suggest they are talking twaddle!