JSA Contributory v Income Support and Sanctions

Orby

Hello Everyone.


I have a couple of questions about JSA contributory and sanctions. My partner and I are both in early 50s. I have always worked but have just resigned from my job and have applied online for JSA contributory I am aware I may be sanctioned. My partner claims carers allowance as he is carer for his father who is 92. My partner has been claiming carers allowance for 1 year and is quite keen to get back into work given our respective ages and his father's health is deteriorating and may go into residential home.
I have been advised the best route would be for my partner to claim for both of us under income support. However I am worried about the financial consequences of him claiming and have the following worries:


a. If my partner claims initially and gets offered short term or hourly work (he is an FE teacher) his claim would stop and I would then make a claim and presumably be subject to sanction but in the meantime have no money. other than my partner's earnings which would be very low. This is a likely scenario as my partner hasn't worked for 2 years and will probably be only able to get hourly paid work but this would be a route for him back into work which he would want to take.
b. However, I am unsure that if I claim contributory JSA to begin with and get sanctioned if this will then prevent my partner making a joint claim for income support - as will my sanction prevent a joint claim?
c If I make a claim and get sanctioned and he then makes a joint claim and then gets work is my sanction period still running or will it expire if I am included on a joint claim.


Sorry that this is so complicated I have limited experience of the benefits process and I am trying to decide the best course of action. I am also concerned that I may have some difficulty getting back into work due to a period of sickness of ten weeks last year due to depression and anxiety although I returned to work in January and worked until July and therefore want to make the right claim to start with.
I am aware these are all what if's but that's the way I think probably a on-going effect of the anxiety from my bullying employers. Thank you all in anticipation.

pmlindyloo

I believe you are being advised for your husband to put in a joint claim for Income Support as you may be sanctioned if you tried to claim contribution based JSA.

As you say there are many ifs and buts to this.

First of all you may not be sanctioned if you can prove that you were bullied at work and had to leave as it would affect your health. So proof would be action that you took at work - raising a written grievance/fit note from doctor saying that you were suffering from anxiety/stress/depression during this time. They would contact your employer.

So, for the sake of argument let's assume that you are sanctioned.

So your best bet is to put in a joint claim for Income support. Your partner's carer's allowance will count as income and be deducted from the income support but you will be entitled to a Carer's premium - basically some extra money. so you would get CA and IS. Having Income Support would mean that you would automatically be entitled to
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction (up to your personal circumstances)

If your husband started working a few hours then this would be deducted from the Income Support (I believe there is a disregard for the first £10?)

Remember if he earns over £102 per week then his eligibility for Carer's Allowance ends.

It is complicated as we don't know when his caring responsibilities will end/when he will get a job/when you will get a job.

As long as he has caring responsibilities then I would put in a joint claim for Income Support as you would get HB and CT support.

You could put different scenarios into a benefit calculator here:

https://www.turn2us.org.uk

What you must be aware of is your husband's earnings will mostly count
as income for any benefit help and unless he does 30 hours a week for tax credits purposes there will not be very much benefit help.