JSA claim is this right?

hightower6660

I lost my job at the end of last month (Feb). I'm the only income in to the household for my wife and two kids.

I have just received my award through the post and am a little confused by how they have worked it out.

It says that I'll be on income based job seekers and that they have set this as £111.45/week based on the number of adults in the house.

The next line is for the number of children in the house which reads £0.00

Surly I should get something for the kids? When I filled out the benefits checker when I was initially laid off it had a figure of about £40/week for child tax credit or is this connected to the working families tax credit calculation?

If someone could give me any tips for checking the various benefits so that I can decide if to appeal the award, I would appreciate it.

Andy

Torry_Quine

JSA doesn't give money for children that comes from child tax credits so you need to contact them.

itch_for_a_glitch

This is reasonably accurate
http://www.entitledto.co.uk/
give it a go.

Elzmumof3

thast is right for the JSA, you need to claim tax credits from the tax credits helpline

pmlindyloo

OK so you can claim:

(All joint claims by the way.)

Job Seekers Allowance (which you have done and is correct)
Housing Benefit (if you rent)
Support for Mortgage Interest (if you have a mortgage but does not 'kick in' until 13 weeks into your claim)
Council Tax benefit
Child Tax Credits
and Child Benefit (which you presumably get already)

Google the names of the benefits to find out how to apply.

Robbie64

If you qualify for Income Based JSA then you will get paid the maximum amount of Child Tax Credit regardless of your earnings in the current tax year.

I believe that the DWP should inform HMRC but you could help speed things up by informing them that you are now on income based JSA.

galante_inc

Word of advice, ring the family tax credits and advise them the change of circumstances, don't relay on the job centre to do it...

Horseunderwater

For the OP - you should now be entitled to 2 x child tax of £2720 + £545 family element for the new tax year and 2 x CTC of £2690 + £545 for last year as you are now on Income related JSA. It should also mean that you get help with council tax so you need to claim that from your local council benefit dept(called Council tax support now). If you rent then you also need to claim Housing benefit ( either LHA rates if private or HB if social housing). Or as the other post stated you can get help with mortgage interest after 13 weeks which is paid at 3.63% currently on the original capital borrowing.
You will also be entitled to Free NHS medicines and eye tests if needed as well as Free Dental NHS treatment and shoukd you need glsses, will get vouchers worth £64.20 towads the costs involved in them.

hightower6660

That's some great information there guys, thanks very much. I thought that the child tax people would automatically be told that I was out of work. Obviously not the case. I am yet to tell the working families tax people that I've been out of work for a month and I assume that it's these people that will change it from working families tax credit to child tax credits.

I have made a claim to the Local council for council tax benefit and have had dental treatment last week but as I was still awaiting for the award I couldn't do anything about furthering my claim or claiming my dental fee which I'll have to do later this week.

I'll contact child tax credit and inform them of a change of circumstances on Tuesday.

Thanks for all your help in this stressful time.

Andy

seven-day-weekend

Hope you manage to get a job soon.

hightower6660

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Hope you manage to get a job soon.

thanks for your encouraging words.