JSA and declaring some work

Electrum

Im on JSA and over the benefits cap.

Basically because of housing benefit and Child tax credits I get my total benefits reduced by the amount of JSA I should be getting before the cap.

So If I do a little work here and there, and declare the earnings, it would be taken off my JSA would it not? But my benefits wouldnt actually go down as long as I only earn a little, I would still be getting £500week.

Would it complicate my claims for housing benefit or would I even need to tell them?

paragon909

Electrum wrote: »

Im on JSA and over the benefits cap.

Basically because of housing benefit and Child tax credits I get my total benefits reduced by the amount of JSA I should be getting before the cap.

So If I do a little work here and there, and declare the earnings, it would be taken off my JSA would it not? But my benefits wouldnt actually go down as long as I only earn a little, I would still be getting £500week.

Would it complicate my claims for housing benefit or would I even need to tell them?

Your not allowed to do any work while claiming JSA, Clue is in the title. Seeker. You seeking work. They would sanction you if you declared this, If you want to claim benefits and work you need to claim universal credit as this is what it's designed for.

p00hsticks

paragon909 wrote: »

Your not allowed to do any work while claiming JSA, Clue is in the title. Seeker. You seeking work. They would sanction you if you declared this, If you want to claim benefits and work you need to claim universal credit as this is what it's designed for.

I don't believe this is true. You can work for up to 16 hours a week whilst claiming JSA, and anything you earned is deducted from your JSA, with a certain amount disregarded.

paragon909

p00hsticks wrote: »

I don't believe this is true. You can work for up to 16 hours a week whilst claiming JSA, and anything you earned is deducted from your JSA, with a certain amount disregarded.

I thought that was only for studying? Maybe i'm wrong.

I stand corrected, From CAB.

Not working or working less than 16 hours a week

To claim Jobseeker's Allowance, you must either not be working at all, or working less than 16 hours a week. If you are living with a partner and claiming income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, your partner must either not be working or working less than 24 hours a week. If you or your partner are working 16 hours or more, you may be able to get Working Tax Credit instead.

If you are working under 16 hours, or your partner is working under 24 hours, the amount of Jobseeker's Allowance you can get will depend on your earnings. If you earn too much, you will not be able to get contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance. You will also have to look for a full-time job as part of the conditions of getting Jobseeker's Allowance. Your partner may have to look for full-time work as well.

For more information on Working Tax Credit, see Benefits and tax credits for people in work.

If you are working part time and want to know whether you can claim Jobseeker's Allowance, you should consult an experienced adviser - for example, at a Citizens Advice Bureau. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by email, click on nearest CAB.

Diary

It would complicate things beyond belief if you worked a little and on JSA. You would not be sanctioned for working and are able to work and claim JSA but in my experience would cause a great deal of hassle.
If you go down that route you need to tell everyone you claim benefits from. And I mean everyone.

Gavin234

Diary wrote: »

It would complicate things beyond belief if you worked a little and on JSA. You would not be sanctioned for working and are able to work and claim JSA but in my experience would cause a great deal of hassle.
If you go down that route you need to tell everyone you claim benefits from. And I mean everyone.

Why would you still claim JSA it would be far better to claim WTC and not have Al the hassle of signing on and proving you are looking for work.

So assuming you are only working less than 16 then you would not get much WTC, but at least you will not be under the Ben cap restrictions anymore.

tomtontom

Gavin234 wrote: »

Why would you still claim JSA it would be far better to claim WTC and not have Al the hassle of signing on and proving you are looking for work.

So assuming you are only working less than 16 then you would not get much WTC, but at least you will not be under the Ben cap restrictions anymore.

You would not be eligible for WTC if you worked less than 16 hours (the minimum is higher depending on your household circumstances).