JobSeekers Allowance

hollywoodtower

Hi

I am 62 years old and have been on contribution based JSA for 6 months and it has just ended. They told me to complete a form for Income based JSA (and I have) but I am 99.99% sure I wont get it due to my circumstances.

I am told I still have to make a trip to sign on whilst this form is being processed? This also means jumping through all the hoops of recording my jobsearch activities and providing evidence of such - but of course I am not receiving any benefit.

Is this right? I find the whole signing on process very miserable, like being back at school and having to justify what I am doing. Cant I just wait till I hear about the (expected) answer to the form? Any input gratefully received.

seven-day-weekend

Are you eligible for Pension Credit? You have to have reached the female State Pension age. If you are, you will not be required to sign on. There's a calculator on this site which also tells you the age you will qualify for Pension Credit.

http://www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk/state-pensions/pension-credit

hollywoodtower

Hi

no, wont be eligible for Pension Credit for the same reason as I will be turned down for income based JSA. Because I had the prudence to take out a mortgage protection policy some 10 years ago, that is classed as 'income' and therefore counts against me. I also have a small amount of savings,(less than the limit) and a pension fund which is supposed to be for when I retired in 3 years time. My wife has the state pension plus a minute personal pension and when Mother in Law died in October, she was left a small retirement flat which is also counted as an asset! We are even paying the service charge and council tax on it!! They add all the 'assets' up and will say no way!

So I have to keep turning up and signing on whilst they think of the best excuse for saying no. I dont even need to sign on for the stamp as I am fully paid up having worked for over 48 years.

Thing is the mortgage protection is paid out again to the Building Society so there is no 'income', the retirement flat has been up for sale for 2 years and nobody wants it, so yes we may be 'asset rich' but we don't have any income coming in!

The forms that I have had to complete, JSA2, JSA3, JSA5 are just ridiculously worded and repetitive. I dont know how some people cope with them. They hope you just give up I think.

Sir Humphrey Appleby is alive and well and has been cloned into every JSA and Benefits department. You cannot and will not win

seven-day-weekend

So if you don't need the NI credited, and you won't get any money, is there any point applying for JSA? It's not compulsory! Then you won't need to jump through the hoops.

pmlindyloo

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

So if you don't need the NI credited, and you won't get any money, is there any point applying for JSA? It's not compulsory! Then you won't need to jump through the hoops.

I absolutely agree. You do not have to sign on - just end your claim. You don't need the NI credits.

As regards the flat inherited from your MIL. Have you checked whether you can get a discount on the CT? (Google your local authority for further info.) Have you thought of renting it out?

LittleMax

Although if you don't claim, you are not counted in the statistics, and jobless figures go down again ;-)

anamenottaken

hollywoodtower wrote: »

Hi

no, wont be eligible for Pension Credit for the same reason as I will be turned down for income based JSA. Because I had the prudence to take out a mortgage protection policy some 10 years ago, that is classed as 'income' and therefore counts against me. I also have a small amount of savings,(less than the limit) and a pension fund which is supposed to be for when I retired in 3 years time. My wife has the state pension plus a minute personal pension and when Mother in Law died in October, she was left a small retirement flat which is also counted as an asset! We are even paying the service charge and council tax on it!! They add all the 'assets' up and will say no way!

So I have to keep turning up and signing on whilst they think of the best excuse for saying no. I dont even need to sign on for the stamp as I am fully paid up having worked for over 48 years.

Thing is the mortgage protection is paid out again to the Building Society so there is no 'income', the retirement flat has been up for sale for 2 years and nobody wants it, so yes we may be 'asset rich' but we don't have any income coming in!

The forms that I have had to complete, JSA2, JSA3, JSA5 are just ridiculously worded and repetitive. I dont know how some people cope with them. They hope you just give up I think.

Sir Humphrey Appleby is alive and well and has been cloned into every JSA and Benefits department. You cannot and will not win

Do the terms of the mortgage protection policy include one that you must be registered unemployed in order for the payments to be made?

cockaleekee

MPPI is only counted as income if it is for an amount greater than your mortgage payment and is available to you to spend. Is it an MPPI policy or income protection?

CCFC_80

LittleMax wrote: »

Although if you don't claim, you are not counted in the statistics, and jobless figures go down again ;-)

With respect, I think most people know the real figures of unemployment are about 3 million more.This is due to people not being eligible or wanting to sign on by being forced to jump through all the hoops to claim JSA.

When I was out of work a few years ago, I wanted to sign on Just to get my NI contributions credited but it was just too much hassle to jump through all their hoops.

LittleMax

CCFC_80 wrote: »

With respect, I think most people know the real figures of unemployment are about 3 million more.This is due to people not being eligible or wanting to sign on by being forced to jump through all the hoops to claim JSA.

When I was out of work a few years ago, I wanted to sign on Just to get my NI contributions credited but it was just too much hassle to jump through all their hoops.

With respect it was said very much tongue in cheek - hence the winky smilie