Job Seekers Allowance with own property

mark15571

Hello,

I really hope someone can help with this.

I was recently made redundant and for the first time, find myself claiming JSA. I live in London and pay rent to a private landlord. However, due to my mother passing away a while back (my Father has also passed away a long time ago) I am in the process of transferring her old property into mine and my sisters name. My sister lives in the property at the moment. I understand that I may not be able to claim housing benefit, as I will own the property, but I have also been told that I may not be able to claim JSA. There is no mortgage due on the house. I don't understand why I can't be entitled to JSA. I need to live etc... I'm already planning to move out of London to my late mothers in Cheltenham.

Can someone please confirm if this is true?

Many thanks,
Mark

Caz3121

there are 2 variations of JSA. Contribution based and Income based
Contribution based will look at whether you have made sufficient NI contributions in the last 2 complete tax years, 13/14 and 14/15. If so you could receive CB JSA which ignores any capital, savings etc You can receive CB JSA for up to 26 weeks
If you have not made sufficient contributions or after 26 weeks, income based JSA would be the claim and, as it is a means tested benefit, savings and capital can affect payments

dippy3103

If you own the property you live in, it's not capital. So your JSA should be fine

GirlFromMars_2

mark15571 wrote: »

Hello,

I really hope someone can help with this.

I was recently made redundant and for the first time, find myself claiming JSA. I live in London and pay rent to a private landlord. However, due to my mother passing away a while back (my Father has also passed away a long time ago) I am in the process of transferring her old property into mine and my sisters name. My sister lives in the property at the moment. I understand that I may not be able to claim housing benefit, as I will own the property, but I have also been told that I may not be able to claim JSA. There is no mortgage due on the house. I don't understand why I can't be entitled to JSA. I need to live etc... I'm already planning to move out of London to my late mothers in Cheltenham.

Can someone please confirm if this is true?

Many thanks,
Mark

Is your sister claiming any benefits?
Do you have any plans to sell the home?
Is your sister paying you any rent?

As has been said, you may be entitled to Contributions Based JSA anyway.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Is your name on the deeds yet? If not you don't yet own it.

konark

Did the will explicitly bequest the house to you and your sister or was it just part of estate. If you live in the house it will not be counted as capital but if you live elsewhere it will, although it may be ignored for up to 12 months whilst you sell it and buy another property.
If the house is specifically bequested I think they deem it yours already but if part of estate it will only be yours once estate is settled and Land Registry has you and your sister as owners, so you may wish to take your time transferring it.
If you sell it and don't buy another house your half of the money is counted as capital and you won't be eligible for means-tested benefits until you have spent it down to £16,000.
As usual inheritance can be a double-edged sword if you're on any MTB.

Topcat1982

I'm already planning to move out of London to my late mothers

If you live in the property, there's no issue

teddysmum

The OP says he lives in London where he pays rent to a private landlord.

Topcat1982

teddysmum wrote: »

The OP says he lives in London where he pays rent to a private landlord.

He also says this:

I'm already planning to move out of London to my late mothers in Cheltenham.

It's not clear if he's asking if he can claim JSA before or after he moves