Surviving on JSA Alone?

debtslave2024

Hi, I have to the realisation in the past few days, I will almost certainly be fully unemployed within a matter of weeks. I am not familiar with the system.

From my limited knowledge, I believe that I will receive £90 a week. I own my property, so will not get housing benefit (however have expensive ground maintenance bills.)

I could be wrong, but £90, sounds like I slide into something resembling “relative poverty.” Can you please confirm that indeed is all you can claim?

Also, how long do the benefits last for?

I live on my own. Thanks.

NedS

New Style JSA is currently £90.50/week, going up to £92.05/week from April. Assuming you have paid sufficient NI contributions in the last 2/3 years, you can claim JSA for up to 6 months providing you are looking for employment (a job seeker). It is not designed to live on, but rather is a short term stop gap to help you out whilst between jobs. Hopefully you can get another job quickly. Have you started looking and applying yet?

Alternatively, you may be able to claim Universal Credit (UC), which is a means tested benefit. To be able to claim, you must have under £16,000 in capital/savings, and if you have more than £6,000 in capital/savings then the amount of UC you are able to claim will be reduced. The amounts you receive are the same as JSA, albeit paid monthly. There is also help with housing costs available through UC, although you have said you own your own house so you may not qualify for any help with housing costs.

RAS

You can get Support for Mortgage Interest, which is a loan. Check exactly what other accommodation bills are called, as again, you might get some paid.

debtslave2024

@RAS. I don’t have a mortgage anymore.

I just filled out the Turn 2 Us calculator, and put in that I was out of work, etc. It then stated that once I am out of work I would be eligible for £393.45 in Universal Credit standard rate per month, and council tax reduction of £72.89 per month. The calculator made no mention of JSA. Can anyone explain this please?

RAS

Some service charges can be covered by housing benefit, check with Shelter. 

debtslave2024

@RAS an ideas why the turn 2 us calculator is reporting £393.45 in UC, and council tax reduction of £72.98 per month when I put in Iam unemployed, it also did not mention JSA?

housebuyer143

debtslave2024 said:

@RAS an ideas why the turn 2 us calculator is reporting £393.45 in UC, and council tax reduction of £72.98 per month when I put in Iam unemployed, it also did not mention JSA?

I think it's because JSA is a contributory benefit in that you need the required NI credits. It's probably not set up to accurately calculate this on those calculators 

poppy12345

New style JSA is a separate benefit to UC and for this you need the correct NI contributions in the previous 2 tax years. If you claim both JSA and UC together the JSA will be deducted in full from any UC entitlement. 

debtslave2024

@poppy12345 What happens if you do not have the appropriate NI contributions for past 2 years? My income was cut badly in 2023, hence the mess I am now in.

KxMx

Then you wouldn't be entitled to New Style JSA. 

EnPointe

debtslave2024 said:

@poppy12345 What happens if you do not have the appropriate NI contributions for past 2 years? My income was cut badly in 2023, hence the mess I am now in.

New style JSA is  back to the  old  way of doing  JSA if you had appropriate  NI contributions  in the last 2  years,   e.g. finiancial light touch for the first  6 months  and   just you  job seeking  commitment  etc   rather than the full finnacial disclosures needed for  UC ,  housing  , etc