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Claiming benefits when waiting for compensation

Hello

A few weeks back I received a letter from the Department for Work & Pensions Compensation Recovery Unit regarding an accident I was involved in a few months back

The letter states that the amount due to DWP as a result of my accident is NIL

From my understanding, if I claim any benefits the compensator can reduce or recover some of the compensation I am due?

My problem is this. I was dismissed from my job just over a week ago, and in serious need of signing on at the Jobcentre just to get me by whilst I look for a new job

So if I do claim JSA, how likely is it to affect my compensation claim when I do finally receive it?

On the letter it says that the certificate is valid until October, if that makes any difference?

Thanks in advance for any help

Comments

  • well it depends is the compensation for personal injury? and will the money be paid into your bank account or into a trust account for you?
  • GlassFull
    GlassFull Posts: 25 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    well it depends is the compensation for personal injury? and will the money be paid into your bank account or into a trust account for you?

    Hi thank you for your reply

    It is for a personal injury. And it will be put into my bank account. Since I've lost my job I planned to use that money to pay off my credit card, so technically I won't be living off of it. Can I explain that to them or will it not make a difference?

    I also rent an apartment privately, so I was hoping to enquire about claiming housing benefits in the meanwhile too. But thankfully I've never had to do it before so I have no idea what I'm even entitled to

    Any advise is greatly appreciated, I'm pretty clueless about these things
  • rogerblack
    rogerblack Posts: 9,446 Forumite
    Only disability benefits claimed due to an accident, are due to be repaid out of compensation.
    If you claim JSA, it doesn't matter.
    Only benefits paid from the time of the accident to the time of the award matter.

    How much is this award?
    If your total savings are under 6K, there isn't an issue.
    If it's significantly more, then if you do not put it into trust, it's only ignored as capital for 12 months.
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