Carers Allowance or Job Seekers

housebuyer143

I have been made redundant and I am trying to decide whether the claim carers or JSA.

JSA is slightly more, so I wanted to know what kind of things I need to do to get this - do I have to go into the offices and how often? I am actively looking for a job so this will come in quicker, but carers requires me to not have to do anything.

Can someone let me know the kinds of things you have to do to get JSA please.

Thanks 

poppy12345

For carers allowance you must be looking after someone for at least 35 hours per week. That person must be claiming a disability benefit such as PIP daily living, DLA mid/high rate care or AA. You also need to make sure that the person doesn't claim a Severe disability Premium in another benefit. If they do a claim for carers allowance will end that.

To claim New style JSA you need to have the correct NI contributions in the previous 2 tax years. It's paid for 6 months and you will be expected to look for work and attend appointments at your local Job centre.

housebuyer143

poppy12345 said:

For carers allowance you must be looking after someone for at least 35 hours per week. That person must be claiming a disability benefit such as PIP daily living, DLA mid/high rate care or AA. You also need to make sure that the person doesn't claim a Severe disability Premium in another benefit. If they do a claim for carers allowance will end that.

To claim New style JSA you need to have the correct NI contributions in the previous 2 tax years. It's paid for 6 months and you will be expected to look for work and attend appointments at your local Job centre.

@po@poppy12345 Thanks, I qualify for both so that's not a problem,I just wondered how often I needed to attend the job centre, like every week, twice a week and for how long? 

As you mention I am caring for someone 100+ hours a week so times to attend are only in school hours and not at all in the holidays. I plan to find another job but it isn't going to be easy because it needs to be very niche like the job I just had. 

poppy12345

It will depend on your commiments. You will need to continue to attend while you're claiming JSA which is for 6 months.

If you claim carers allowance and return to work, you must make sure that your earnings are not more than £139/week.

Have you checked entitlement to Universal Credit? If you live with a partner you'll need to claim as a couple and your joint circumstances will be taken into consideration. If you have savings/capital of more than £16,000 you're excluded from claiming. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator/Intro/Home?cid=4b74fdf1-8131-4b35-b2ef-456c0b0781f5

If you claim either NsJSA or CA at the same time as UC then they will be deducted in full from any UC entitlement. Your UC will include carers element, so there won't be any work commiments as a carer.

housebuyer143

poppy12345 said:

It will depend on your commiments. You will need to continue to attend while you're claiming JSA which is for 6 months.

If you claim carers allowance and return to work, you must make sure that your earnings are not more than £139/week.

Have you checked entitlement to Universal Credit? If you live with a partner you'll need to claim as a couple and your joint circumstances will be taken into consideration. If you have savings/capital of more than £16,000 you're excluded from claiming. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator/Intro/Home?cid=4b74fdf1-8131-4b35-b2ef-456c0b0781f5

If you claim either NsJSA or CA at the same time as UC then they will be deducted in full from any UC entitlement. Your UC will include carers element, so there won't be any work commiments as a carer.

Thanks, we can't get universal credit. 

I will apply for job seekers then for the first 6 months and then move to carers if I still haven't found a position. 👍 

Any problems with the job centre I guess I'll just move into carers and take the £10 a week less. JSA is just quicker to get as carers I'll be waiting 3 months probably fit my first payment.

Bigwheels1111

I’m the only carer for my friend, 24/7 365 days a year.
It is very unfair that I worked hard and saved for my future, now this stops me from getting anything other than carers allowance.
I think I would get paid more per hour working in a sweatshop.

housebuyer143

I've ended up settling on careers because of PILON I am not eligible to claim job seekers until that notice period expires as well as my holiday pay, which would make me ineligible until end of September. 

poppy12345

For carers allowance there's a weekly earnings limit of £139. I'm unsure if you can claim CA due to the PILON being classed as earnings if it's more than the maximum amount allowed but i'm sure others will know.

housebuyer143

poppy12345 said:

For carers allowance there's a weekly earnings limit of £139. I'm unsure if you can claim CA due to the PILON being classed as earnings if it's more than the maximum amount allowed but i'm sure others will know.

It's a weird one isn't it because the money is paid early, in advance of notice not received so I'm not sure if carers looks at it the same way as Job seekers do. My employment has officially ends in August 🤔

HillStreetBlues

housebuyer143 said:

poppy12345 said:

For carers allowance there's a weekly earnings limit of £139. I'm unsure if you can claim CA due to the PILON being classed as earnings if it's more than the maximum amount allowed but i'm sure others will know.

It's a weird one isn't it because the money is paid early, in advance of notice not received so I'm not sure if carers looks at it the same way as Job seekers do. My employment has officially ends in August 🤔

Looking at the form, I expect it is the same as JSA.
The form asks for last payment amount and what period it covers, so the "to" date will be the end of your PILON.

poppy12345

HillStreetBlues said:

housebuyer143 said:

poppy12345 said:

For carers allowance there's a weekly earnings limit of £139. I'm unsure if you can claim CA due to the PILON being classed as earnings if it's more than the maximum amount allowed but i'm sure others will know.

It's a weird one isn't it because the money is paid early, in advance of notice not received so I'm not sure if carers looks at it the same way as Job seekers do. My employment has officially ends in August 🤔

Looking at the form, I expect it is the same as JSA.
The form asks for last payment amount and what period it covers, so the "to" date will be the end of your PILON.

Thanks, that's exactly my thoughts too. Had the PILON been mentioned earlier, the correct advice could have been given.