Made redundant, new to JSA and Universal Credit, after some advice about process

mickym

Hi,

I was made redundant in Oct 25, was given 3 months PILON, that ends very soon.

Im looking to use my mortgage protection policy to cover mortgage payments until I find a new job.

To make a claim for this I need to provide the insurance company evidence that I am registered as unemployed, and receiving jobseekers allowance / universal credit.

FYI savings as a couple are under £16k (what seems to be a threshold)

Im a bit confused if I need to claim for one or the other or both? If so is there a specific order I need to do it?

Can this all be done online or do I need to visit a Jobcentre or other similar office to check in on my job search?

The last time I attended a Job Centre was almost 30 years ago, so a lot has changed!

Im awaiting a call back from the Citizen Advice bureau, but thought id ask this great community if they could adbvise me in the meantime.

Thanks!

Brie

I claimed JSA after being made redundant about 3 years back. I wasn't eligible for anything else.  

I hate to say this but be prepared for a nasty experience.  I was given incorrect information - my initial appointment was for 9 pm on a Saturday evening.  Fortunately I found out this was incorrect when I rang to see if I could get a different time, turns out they meant to say 9 am.  If I'd shown up at 9 pm they would have been closed and I would have been marked as willfully having missed my appointment.  

I was then told I needed to attend for appointments every other Thursday morning.  I told them I had a very part time job and worked Thursdays and couldn't change this.  Cue great huffing at how inconvenient I was making things.  Eventually they agreed that I could have a phone interview Thursday afternoons.  At any time on Thursday afternoon.  If I was driving home from my part time job (as happened) and they rang me this was counted as me willfully having missed my appointment.  There seemed to be no option to reschedule despite me repeatedly attempting to do so.  

My non compliance led to my JSA being stopped.  When I tried to complain about this it was made clear it was all my fault.

Now hopefully your job centre is staffed by people rather than gremlins.  And if you are able to go regularly it's unlikely you will have the problems I had.  Meanwhile if you haven't done so already you might benefit from checking out the jobseekers board here.
Employment, jobseeking & training — MoneySavingExpert Forum

TimeLord1

Apply for both simultaneously as a couples claim. When you fill out the Universal Credit application, it will ask if you have applied for New Style JSA. Applying for both ensures you get the "award letter" the insurer needs and the maximum financial support.

Since your PILON ends "very soon," you should wait until the day after your official notice period/PILON ends to submit the applications. If you apply while still technically receiving "notice pay," the DWP might treat you as still employed for those days.

mickym

TimeLord1 said:

Apply for both simultaneously as a couples claim. When you fill out the Universal Credit application, it will ask if you have applied for New Style JSA. Applying for both ensures you get the "award letter" the insurer needs and the maximum financial support.

Since your PILON ends "very soon," you should wait until the day after your official notice period/PILON ends to submit the applications. If you apply while still technically receiving "notice pay," the DWP might treat you as still employed for those days.

It ends in a matter of days, but I was concerned it could take a couple of weeks to get the evidence I need to give the insurer, as they wont start paying out until im officially on JSA/Universal credit.

So i thought if i got the ball rolling now it would be a good idea.

TimeLord1

I would start with the UC first; you can submit it after the Pilon ends, but UC is means tested the new Style job seekers claiming UC you will receive a link for your partner to also complete. The ID: if you have a current passport and driving license, this can be submitted easy. If not a phone call or visit to jobcentre to provide documents and further one to complete a claimant commitment. 


Example mostly the same except the ID options

https://youtu.be/9Q2u64sKnn0?si=bwc4bMMIuWR6egWS

huckster

For the New Style JSA claim, once you have submitted claim online, it will take about 3 weeks before you have a Job Centre appointment. Once you have attended appointment, it will then take about 2 weeks before you received letter from JSA in post confirming benefit details. So about 5 weeks before you had benefit document to provide mortgage protection Insurers.

Before you claim UC, use an online benefits calculator such as Entitledto to see if worth claiming. Depends on earnings and savings. 

mickym

Thank you all for your help, its appreciated.

huckster said:

For the New Style JSA claim, once you have submitted claim online, it will take about 3 weeks before you have a Job Centre appointment. Once you have attended appointment, it will then take about 2 weeks before you received letter from JSA in post confirming benefit details. So about 5 weeks before you had benefit document to provide mortgage protection Insurers.

Before you claim UC, use an online benefits calculator such as Entitledto to see if worth claiming. Depends on earnings and savings. 

5 weeks?! That's disheartening to hear, that will mean despite paying and being covered to get our mortgage paid, waiting 5 weeks from end of pilon means it could be two mortgage payments going out before the policy covers us. If the process takes so long, it seems silly they insist you wait on PILON ending before signing up to JSA / UC.

In the form i need to fill in for my mortgage protection, it asks do I have a Job Seekers agreement in place..is that something I can get in place earlier than confirmation of any benefit being paid? Just thinking if I can speed things up a little so we can get our payments in asap.

My wife only works part time (two days a week, with the rare chance she gets offered an extra day to work).

I was made redundant from my full time employer, however I am still registered for self assessment (from years ago, as I used to take on small freelancing jobs), but I havent done any for years due to being so busy with the main job. 

Am I right in thinking im allowed to work upto 16 hours a week freelance if the opportunity arises? If so is there a limit on what can be earned in those hours? 

I know im not the only one going through this process, and feel for people that are worse off, so please excuse if I rant a little. 

mickym

Just looked at the requirments asked by my insurance provider,

It states they need:

- copy of the Jobseekers Allowance decision letter to confirm the start date of your benefit.

Or

- if you cannot claim Jobseekers Allowance, you can send a screenshot of your universal credit claim to show the date the claim begins.

poppy12345

As your partner is working if you have no dependent children living with you then there may not be any entitlement to UC. Use a benefits calculator as advised before claiming.

When you claim JSA if there’s entitlement to UC the JSA will be deducted in full from any UC entitlement.

When claiming JSA if you work only the first £5 of your earnings is ignored, for anything over this amount the JSA is reduced £1 for £1. 

Can’t advise when’s the best time to claim JSA sorry. 

mickym

I had a long chat with CAB who were really helpful and answered many of my questions.

peteuk

FYI - there is another threshold for UC

£6K of capital - your UC is reduced by £4.35 for every £250.00 or part of there in above £6K.

£16K of capital - not entitled to claim UC.

NB after any capital which is subject to a disregard.