JSA & UC

amy84

Hi, 
Looking for advice /best option. I have to claim UC due to lossing work because of COVID-19. We don't find out if we are entitled to anything until 6th May (😱) in the mean time family suggested JSA which I apllied for and totally forgot about until today when it just appeared in my bank, however I don't think I should have applied for it, as after looking into it today (I know I should have read s throughly to start with but I was panicking about money and my anxiety doesn't let me rest until I have done something) it's if your job searching which I'm not at the moment as I'm hoping when this is all over I'll have my job to go back to and read it affects the UC claim. Can I cancel the JSA without any comeback & if we don't get any UC can I then try JSA? Sorry if this is confusing I'm panicking I've messed it all up. Also will I need to pay back what I received today? Which I'm happy to do, or again will this affect my UC. 

poppy12345

Your New style JSA will be deducted £1 for £1 from any UC entitlement. As you're not working at the moment and paid NI contributions then yes you're entitled to the JSA.

Once you start back working then your UC will be reduced by 63% for earnings received during your assessment period. If you have dependent children then you will have a work allowance, which means you can earn a certain amount of money before the deductions apply.

Use a benefits calculator to see how much UC you maybe entitled to. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/

Spoonie_Turtle

Work search requirements are a part of UC too, but for both benefits they are currently suspended due to the current circumstances. Not that it answers your question exactly, but just so you know.

You can use a benefit calculator to see if you'll likely be entitled to any UC, or you can see how it's worked out and maybe do a manual calculation using the information here: https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/new-to-universal-credit/how-much-youll-get/

amy84

Ipoppy12345 said:

Your New style JSA will be deducted £1 for £1 from any UC entitlement. As you're not working at the moment and paid NI contributions then yes you're entitled to the JSA.

Once you start back working then your UC will be reduced by 63% for earnings received during your assessment period. If you have dependent children then you will have a work allowance, which means you can earn a certain amount of money before the deductions apply.

Use a benefits calculator to see how much UC you maybe entitled to. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/

Thank you. I have redone the calculator today with my JSA and with JSA I won't receive UC, well it says I do but only £14 a month! But if I don't have JSA the calculator says I could get £394 a month. 

poppy12345

The standard allowance for UC has been increased because of Covid19 and will apply for 1 year. The amounts are as follows.

£342.72 for a single claimant under 25.
£409.89 for a single claimant over 25.
£488.59 for joint claimants under 25.
£594.04 for joint claimants over 25.

As advised your JSA will be classed as income and reduce your UC £1 for £1 because you can't expect to receive both together.

Spoonie_Turtle

It might be worth keeping a UC claim open for the income-related help you can get (e.g. with health costs) if you have earnings under a certain amount.

amy84

poppy12345 said:

The standard allowance for UC has been increased because of Covid19 and will apply for 1 year. The amounts are as follows.

£342.72 for a single claimant under 25.
£409.89 for a single claimant over 25.
£488.59 for joint claimants under 25.
£594.04 for joint claimants over 25.

As advised your JSA will be classed as income and reduce your UC £1 for £1 because you can't expect to receive both together.

It's not I expect to receive both together! I have never in my working life had to claim benefits before re and have gotten mixed up, that is all. I do t know each benefit well and what all teh rules are. All I am wanting to know is if I can cancel JSA and wait and see if we do get what has been calculated and then reapply for JSA. 

amy84

Reapply for JSA if we do t get the UC

poppy12345

You don't need to cancel your JSA because this will just be deducted from your UC entitlement.

amy84

poppy12345 said:

You don't need to cancel your JSA because this will just be deducted from your UC entitlement.

If I keep JSA we will get £14 UC credit a month. And JSA only lasts 6 month 

poppy12345

If you start back working again you will need to report the changes to DWP and your JSA will end. Your UC will continue for as long as your entitled to it. Once your JSA ends then your UC will increase, if you haven't started working again.