Jobseekers and savings

jillkc68

Hi
I don't have the full information and i apologise in advance for that, but if an 18 year old has claimed jobseekers allowance for a period of 2 years (whilst looking for employment) but had savings of £4000 that they did not declare at the time of claiming the benefit, will that person have to pay back the benefit now that the benefits office have been notified of the savings?
Many thanks in anticipation
JC

~Beanie~

Savings under £6,000 won't affect income based JSA so as long as he has only ever had £4,000, it won't make any difference.

McKneff

There you go, feel better for that? I bet you've been worrying your socks off.


Hope you find a job soon.


Although, at 18 I fail to see how you have been eligiable to have claimed Job seekers allowance from 16 years of age to 18 years of age ?????

tomterm8

McKneff wrote: »

Although, at 18 I fail to see how you have been eligiable to have claimed Job seekers allowance from 16 years of age to 18 years of age ?????

Some 16 years are eligible for JSA.

tomterm8

~Beanie~ wrote: »

Savings under £6,000 won't affect income based JSA so as long as he has only ever had £4,000, it won't make any difference.

I think this may not be the case... er, in this case.

The criteria for someone to claim JSA when they are under 18 is different from the criteria that someone over the age of 18 has to fulfill.

It depends on how the OP qualified for the benefit, whether it was on grounds of severe hardship or one of the other grounds.

This is an area that I would recommend the OP going to a specialist benefit advisor... maybe the princes trust, or maybe CAB? Since it depends on the actual circumstances of the case.

jillkc68

Hey everyone Thanx for the replies. This isn't about me. It's my nephew. He's got aspergers and started claiming JSA when he was 18 (he's 20 now). He didn't realise he was meant to declare his savings and his bank recently alerted the benefits office because his savings went above £6000. They have now asked to interview him and his mum and dad are in bits as is he. Hence my query =(

tomterm8

jillkc68 wrote: »

Hey everyone Thanx for the replies. This isn't about me. It's my nephew. He's got aspergers and started claiming JSA when he was 18 (he's 20 now). He didn't realise he was meant to declare his savings and his bank recently alerted the benefits office because his savings went above £6000. They have now asked to interview him and his mum and dad are in bits as is he. Hence my query =(

If his savings were below 6,000 they won't have affected his eligibility. If they are a little over 6,000 they may have to reassess his eligibility but as long as it hasn't gone on for too long it won't be a huge amount of money.

jillkc68

They were definitely below 6000 originally as it was money he was left in a will. Once it hit 6000 then jobs and benefits were informed. Iv told his mum (my sis) just to be honest as they've nothing to hide and the mistake was made by an 18 year old with aspergers. He also has an isa that his grandad set up for him but he doesn't have access to this until he's 21.
J

Torry_Quine

jillkc68 wrote: »

They were definitely below 6000 originally as it was money he was left in a will. Once it hit 6000 then jobs and benefits were informed. Iv told his mum (my sis) just to be honest as they've nothing to hide and the mistake was made by an 18 year old with aspergers. He also has an isa that his grandad set up for him but he doesn't have access to this until he's 21.
J

Check this as I think only the person themself can open an ISA in their own name so the money would be his and count as part of his savings.

jillkc68

Oh really! I know nothing about isas! Wouldn't have extra cash to open one lol! I'll definitely repost when I know what the outcome is. As you know I'm only going by the information I have. Mind you at the end of the day honesty is the best policy because they can find out everything!
Thanks so much for the replies guys
J x

mebluetopaz

Even if he's gone above £6,000 in savings, they will only deduct "x" amount per £25 from any benefits he's entitled to xx