Advice needed re JSA/IB

chop595

Hi, I wonder if anyone can help me. I've been part of a joint claim for JSA. The problem is that for the past few months or so i've been feeling very depressed and suffering from bad pains through out my body. I finally went to the doctors about this a week ago as the pain had become unbearble.

I'm still waiting for the results of blood test, but what concerns me at the moment is the JSA claim. As i'm not fit to look for work at the moment should i inform them? I'm really worried about this affecting our money and the stress this would cause. If i tell them about this would i have to claim incapcity benefit? and how would this affect a joint claim?

I'm at a complete loss at the moment and all the worry is driving me nutty! Any advice would be greatly appreicated!

Thanks for reading.

ukdickie31

If you are a person who has to sign on, then if you are not fit for work, JSA is not the benefit for you. You should really claim Incap (and Income Support).

You should then claim for your partner on your Incap / IS claim.

stazi

More info about both IB and IS can be found here-
http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Customers/WorkingAgeBenefits/Incomesupport/index.html
http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Customers/WorkingAgeBenefits/Dev_008025.xml.html

chop595

Thanks both for the replies. My boyfriend got the froms today for me to fill in, although apparently the jsa people didn't really know which ones to give him. They always seem to get confused with our joint claim for some reason.

I just hope they know what to do with them when i hand them back lol.

Thanks again.

rachnbri

If you're part of a joint claim but you're not fit for work it is possible to get an exemption from the conditions of JSA. I'll see if I can find a link.

rachnbri

Right you need to read leaflet JCJSAA5JP available on the jobcentre plus website http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/stellent/groups/jcp/documents/websitecontent/dev_011742.pdf

That'll tell you what you need to do. Basically though, if you don't want to claim Incapacity Benefit (if you've not paid enough National Insurance) you need to complete form JSA6 and submit it to the jobcentre with a sick note from your doctor.

chop595

Thank you rachnbri, I called the jobcenter yesterday morning as the form they gave my boyfriend was a change of circumstance, which I didn't think was right. Then they told me that i'd have to make a new claim for income support and they couldn't tell me if our money would be affected.

I asked them if there was any way that they could just exempt me from the claim because the doctors note I have is only for 3 weeks and I don't know what will happen after it runs out. It seems a bit silly to me to make a new claim that could possibly only last a few weeks, but they were possitive thats what I had to do. But from the info you gave me it seems to fit my situation perfectly so at least I know what to ask for when I ring them Monday now. I guess it must just be pot luck when you ring the jobcenter as they all seem to contradict eachother lol.

Thanks for your help!