access to work coach if are savings too high for UC

zz99

If ones savings exceed the 16k limit for Universal Credit eligibility, can one still have access to a work coach? Also is it still possible to get National Insurance credits while unemployed, even when not eligible for Universal Credit?

Spoonie_Turtle

Depending on your National Insurance record for the past two full tax years, JSA might be an option.

If you don't have the NI contributions to claim JSA with payment, you can still claim NI credits as a jobseeker.  To my knowledge this involves meeting the conditions for JSA (including attending appointments, so not only would you have access to a work coach but you would be required to enagage with them) just without receiving the payments.

Grumpy_chap

zz99 said:

If ones savings exceed the 16k limit for Universal Credit eligibility, can one still have access to a work coach? Also is it still possible to get National Insurance credits while unemployed, even when not eligible for Universal Credit?

Have you recently become unemployed and do you have NI contributions covering the past two years?
You may be eligible for nJSA (new-style Job Seekers Allowance) which is not means tested but does still make a weekly payment for a period, counts for NI stamp and provides access to the Work Coach.
If in doubt, it is probably worth making a claim.
When my wife has claimed and the actual payment period expired, access to the Work Coach was still possible.

huckster

Assuming below state pension age.

As already suggested claim New Style JSA if you don't have health issues preventing you from working. If you have health barriers which mean you need more support getting into work, then you should claim New Style ESA.

After you have submitted your claim, you would need to ask about Work Coach support available. Many Job Centres are understaffed at the moment, so appointments may not be as regular, so you need to be clear about what support you are looking for. E.g. do you want to attend skills courses?

peteuk

Are you transitioning From TC to UC? If so your savings over £16K will be disregarded for a year.