Universal credit vs. JSA

sausageface

I have just finished my last year at university and am now looking for a job but intend to do a part time Masters this September whilst working part time.

I have never signed on before as I have always worked before uni so this is a bit new to me. I did look in to it last summer, as I could claim as I have 3 children and am a single parent. In the end decided against it as the JSA web site said I would have to apply for UC and I didn't want to be messing my HB and TC around so just lived off my TC and CB.

Because it said this last year, I have gone on to the UC website to claim. Put all my details in and it said your expected first payment will be £0.00 and paid on 17th July. Does it usually say zero?

I had a look at the JSA site again and it seems now I can apply for JSA?! I have been looking into both benefits and it seems that if I carry on with my claim for JSA and then if for some reason have to apply for UC after April 2017 I will only be able to claim for my first 2 children and would not get the first child element. Is this correct?

My question really is, do I get to choose which benefit I apply for? For ease I would like to just claim JSA and keep my other claims as they are for as long as necessary, but I am worried if in the future, due to my work circumstances potentially changing quite a bit over the next couple of years, they could make me change over to UC and I would lose these other elements.

What would you do?

Many thanks.

SF x

pmlindyloo

sausageface wrote: »

I have just finished my last year at university and am now looking for a job but intend to do a part time Masters this September whilst working part time.

I have never signed on before as I have always worked before uni so this is a bit new to me. I did look in to it last summer, as I could claim as I have 3 children and am a single parent. In the end decided against it as the JSA web site said I would have to apply for UC and I didn't want to be messing my HB and TC around so just lived off my TC and CB.

Because it said this last year, I have gone on to the UC website to claim. Put all my details in and it said your expected first payment will be £0.00 and paid on 17th July. Does it usually say zero?

I had a look at the JSA site again and it seems now I can apply for JSA?! I have been looking into both benefits and it seems that if I carry on with my claim for JSA and then if for some reason have to apply for UC after April 2017 I will only be able to claim for my first 2 children and would not get the first child element. Is this correct?

My question really is, do I get to choose which benefit I apply for? For ease I would like to just claim JSA and keep my other claims as they are for as long as necessary, but I am worried if in the future, due to my work circumstances potentially changing quite a bit over the next couple of years, they could make me change over to UC and I would lose these other elements.

What would you do?

Many thanks.

SF x

No, you cannot decide which benefit - JSA or UC - you apply for!

I admit to being totally lost with which areas are doing what. I believe that only a couple of areas are providing a full service for everyone under UC.

My best suggestion is to telephone the UC helpline and they will be able to tell you which one you have to claim.

Contact details in this link:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/before-you-apply/universal-credit-eligibility/

sausageface

Thanks for your reply, I will give them a call then and ask what I should be applying for.

SF x