Claiming JSA after travelling europe

studiobob

Hi Folks

I'm 1 week away from returning to the UK after travelling Europe since April last year. Can you foresee any issues with claiming JSA from the date of our return? I've seen some advice implying I wouldn't be able to claim if I had been abroad for more than 6 months but I couldn't determine if that was applying to people who have lived abroad opposed to just travelling abroad like me. I haven't worked while I was away nor claimed benefits either. I have been a UK resident all my life.

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks

p00hsticks

What were you doing prior to April last year - will you have made enough NI contributions for tax years 2011-12 and 2012-13 t obe eligible for Contributions based JSA ?

If not then you may be eligible for income based JSA depending on your income/savings.

You say 'our return' - do you have a partner ? Are they also intending to submit a joint claim for JSA ?

sorry, I can't comment on whether the fact that you have been travelling will make a difference to your claim.

supertomsk

Some new rules just came - its possible you will not be able to claim income based jobseekers for 3 months. These rules were brought in as a result to the migrants coming in. I'll see if I can find a link, now.

When_the_going_gets_tough

OP you will need to establish habitual residence - I think as a British citizen you have an automatic right to reside - note these terms have a technical meaning for the purposes of claiming benefits. Google habitual residence and you will see the sorts of steps you need to take to establish your presence in the UK. If your application is rejected you can both appeal and submit fresh applications until your habuitual residence is accepted by DWP. Hope that helps.

supertomsk

Here is some info
New three month residency rule for EEA job seekers

An EEA national who is a jobseeker used to be able to claim income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) within the initial three month right of residence period and as a result be able to claim Housing Benefit and Council Tax support as well.

From 1 January 2014 this is no longer the case. A three month residency rule has been introduced so when EEA job seekers (and British nationals returning from abroad) make a JSA claim they will have to provide evidence of how long they have been living in the UK (or the Common Travel Area), for example, a travel document, utility bill or tenancy agreement, to show they have been living here for at least three months.

If it is decided that there is not sufficient evidence that they have been living in the UK or the Common Travel Area for three months they will not pass the Habitual Residence test so won't be able to get JSA.

http://www.turn2us.org.uk/information__resources/benefits/migrants/habitual_residence_test_hrt.aspx#3monthrule

Peccary

I can only speak from experience from before the new rules. We were approved for JSA after returning from travelling for over six months. We were eligible for contribution based JSA.

studiobob

Hi, thanks for all the responses. Prior to travelling both me and my partner have worked full time and paid taxes/NI for 10 years +. Will be pretty unhappy if I have to wait 3 months to claim!

I could potentially provide proof of UK address as I had my mail forwarded elsewhere so my last address 'technically hasn't changed yet. Not sure how that will stack up though!!

Peccary

studiobob wrote: »

Hi, thanks for all the responses. Prior to travelling both me and my partner have worked full time and paid taxes/NI for 10 years +. Will be pretty unhappy if I have to wait 3 months to claim!

I could potentially provide proof of UK address as I had my mail forwarded elsewhere so my last address 'technically hasn't changed yet. Not sure how that will stack up though!!

Our situation was exactly the same and we didn't have to wait very long, maybe had first payment after 2 weeks? We were staying with family and our bank statements and stuff were going there in our absence. They were pretty quick to give us an appointment to progress the claim after submitting the form. I found the process painless though I only signed on a few weeks in the end.

zabi89

If you are a British Citizen and have simply been traveling and returned. I don't see why they wouldn't let you claim JSA.

fufu_banterwaite

studiobob wrote: »

Hi Folks

I'm 1 week away from returning to the UK after travelling Europe since April last year.

Hi Bobby

Apologies for sidetracking this thread but where in Europe did you go and what was your rough budget? I’m thinking about travelling around Europe later this year.

If it is any help I went travelling for 18months from 2009 to 2011, this included six months living and working in Australia. I was able to claim JSA when I returned home.

Thanks

studiobob

Glad to hear we shouldn't have a problem, fingers crossed anyway!!

We had a base in France in the alps - my g/f parents have a ski apartment there. So that kept our costs down considerably! Then we did 3 month long trips out to spain, germany, austria, italy, france and switzerland. Budgetwise I would say avoid Switzerland!! We camped all the way round and we had our own car. Probably spent a couple of thousand on each trip - we saved money by wild camping in france and Italy in a few places and we spent the summer walking in the alps as it was free to stay there!