unemployment insurance only & other benefits

financially_sound

I've recently taken out an unemployment insurance only policy to cover mortgage payments plus bills. I have sickness, accident insurance through work.

I'm a bit unclear whether these insurance payments will affect the income-based JSA level you get or not. From what I've read in the first 6 months you get contribution-based JSA then after that, if still unemployed, you get income-based JSA which is means tested (but insurance policies like this aren't counted?)

How about other support like council tax reduction, child tax credit, or income support, are those affected?

I've never received any of these benefits as I've always been in work but now that I have a mortgage I'd like to prepare as well as I can.

Thank you.

Lovelyjoolz

I thought that if you owned a home (mortgaged or otherwise) you were not entitled to any means tested JSA? If so, then your question is moot.

Do you have a partner who works?

financially_sound

I'm a single parent. Really? no entitlement to income based JSA for homeowners, even after contribution based JSA runs out? Do you have a link where I can read about it?

Suarez

Lovelyjoolz wrote: »

I thought that if you owned a home (mortgaged or otherwise) you were not entitled to any means tested JSA? If so, then your question is moot.

Where are you getting your incorrect information from?

financially_sound

I've read a bit more and it looks like as a homeowner with mortgage you can get income-based JSA after 6 months (after contribution-based JSA is running out). However it's unclear whether mortgage protection insurance payments received will reduce the entire JSA amount to nil. Or it will reduce to nil just a part of it (the one corresponding to 'support for mortgage interest')?

Does anyone know?

Lovelyjoolz

Suarez wrote: »

Where are you getting your incorrect information from?

From the fact that my OH gets nothing now, other than his NI paid.

DWP said it was because he was a homeowner.

p00hsticks

Lovelyjoolz wrote: »

From the fact that my OH gets nothing now, other than his NI paid.

DWP said it was because he was a homeowner.

I'm not an expert, but I think that would make sense only if he wasn't actually living in the home (as he could ten get an income from it by renting it out).

If you are working and live with him, it's more likely to be because you earn too much

Carole_L

I was made redundant after working and paying tax for over 20 years my redundancy was due to cuts to charity sector . I too have paid into a mortgage protection insurance plan for years . My contribution based JSA runs out soon and its a catch 22 situation , you have to show JSA payments in order to get payments protection for mortgage but I understand that if you are getting mortgage protection you can't claim JSA !!!!!! Its about time insurance companies and DWP started talking as responsible people like us who have worked all our lives are saving the government by not claiming any benefits at all. Can you register unemployed without receiving any benefits ? They should make it easier for people like us who are trying to support ourselves and have paid into an insurance plan in advance. There are people who have never worked have no intention of working rent property and claim for everything that is going , Government need to support us more and get tougher on those who do not want to work . Is there anyone in the same situation?

Carole_L

The insurance companies and DWP need to talk about JSA as insurance companies want JSA proof in order to make payments but you can't get JSA if you have insurance .

Those of us who have had paid for years into an insurance plan are saving the government money in benefits so DWP should be making life easier for us not harder as we are trying to help ourselves even though we have been made redundant due to government cuts . Why do people who have never worked get support to claim for everything yet those of us who have paid into the system for most of our lives are given a hard time because we planned ahead. This DWP new system has not been thought through. The jobcentre can't help me I do my own job search they are only geared up to help those who don't want to work not professionals who have been in a good job for years and made redundant through no fault of their own.

p00hsticks

Carole_L wrote: »

The insurance companies and DWP need to talk about JSA as insurance companies want JSA proof in order to make payments but you can't get JSA if you have insurance.

I don't believe this is true.

If you've got the necessary NI contributions record over the last few years you can claim six months contributions based JSA regardless of insurance, savings etc.

Once you exceed the six months, then I suspect any insurance payout would be taken into account and would preclude you from getting any actual payment - but you should still be able to continue signing on for JSA and getting NI credits towards your pension, even if you don't actually get any money.

I would think that the insurance companies ask for evidence that you are signing on as proof that you are actually looking for work, not that you are getting paid anything.