JSA - Tax credit run on and Housing benefit

kirkbyinfurnesslad_2

A friend of mine is likely to be loosing her job on Friday

She is a single parent living in a council house. It looks like she would get the WTC/CTC run on for four weeks. She intends to make a claim for JSA on the day she looses her job (if that happens) and also get the claim in to the council offices that day as well because the claim always go from the monday after they receive the claim.

However if she gets the run is the any point in rushing to get the Housing & Council tax benefit. It is approx £450 for the month and this may mean she isnt entitled to HB/CB straight away

Also she would have to declare this on her application , but she wouldnt have to declare once she had stopped getting it (but would still get the CTC element.

Any help would be repreciated, i want her to help her get the benefit she is entitled to, but dont want the run on thing to mess things up and cause problems with the council

Thanks in advance

coffeelover65

A tax credit run on is no different to a normal tax credit payment from a housing benefit perspective. She has nothing to lose by claiming straight away. At the most she might not qualify for the first few weeks of her claim.

Have her complete her local councils website to check how much HB and Council Tax Support she would qualify for.

kirkbyinfurnesslad_2

Thanks coffee.
I've read tht she might not get much jsa for the first few weeks for the claim due to the run on of tax credits
Would the council be updated with regards to when she was entitled to a normal jsa payment, or would she have to take this proof in her self.

Just trying to cover eventualities and make sure she's proactive and not just expect Rbs council to know and end up in arrears

coffeelover65

What generally happens is someone will claim JSA, but if the WTC element can often mean that the DWP will nill the JSA claim, ie, they dont qualify for JSA as they have too high an income. The council will then assess the claim based on the WTC/CTC and any other income. If she is awarded JSA after the WTC run on, then the HB/CTS claim can be amended accordingly.

kirkbyinfurnesslad_2

That's great.

Is it up to her though to inform the council once she is awarded the jsa or is it all automatic/back office

coffeelover65

Its "supposed" to be automated but its hit and miss so she's best off supplying the JSA award letter to the council as soon as she receives it.

kirkbyinfurnesslad_2

much appreciate your help , just looked at the housing benefit form on line and its SOOO long!!

kirkbyinfurnesslad_2

Final question!

Are internet banking statements (PDF files which can printed out), which show transaction, bank name etc (virtually a normally statement), often accepted by Councils or do they need to be ones sent through the post?

Horseunderwater

Well my Local authority accepted mine last year. So long as they show money in/out - have bank name on along with account number there should not be any problem. I just printed off the latest one available.

belowtheline2013

Depends on the Council. Mine won't accept online or copy bank statements unless you take them into the bank and get them stamped and signed. The bank are usually happy to do it anyway and it only takes a few seconds.

The Housing Benefit form looks really long but once you start it's not so bad - it cuts out the sections you don't need based on your answers to the previous questions. It also gives you a list of the exact evidence you need.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

If you are in private rented, your rent is higher than your LHA amount, could afford the rent when you moved in and have not claimed in the previous 52 weeks you should get 13 weeks protection where the full rent is used in the calculation rather than the LHA amount.