JSA - 4 week wait for initial interview

Worpy1

Hello,

So on Friday 21st I became aware that my employer had filed for administration, we were told to come to work on the Monday, got there sent home and told you won't be getting paid on Friday as planned. On the Friday the administrators advised we were all being made redundant. So I registered on line for JSA that day (27th Feb) I have today received an email for an appointment on 30th March ! and obviously won't receive any payment until I have attended the interview. I have also put in a claim for loss of wages with on the Gov website that also takes 6 weeks. I haven't been paid since end of Jan and won't receive anything until April at the earliest.

I am frantically trying to secure a new job this is the first time in my life I have been in this position, but have had to borrow money to pay my mortgage and bills.

My question is if I receive a job offer before 30th March should I still go for the JSA interview and can I claim JSA from 27th Feb up until I start work ? It is unlikely I will start work until April as my profession requires a lot of background checks to be completed before I can start.

Spoonie_Turtle

I can't help on the JSA front but have you considered Universal Credit? You can get an advance as soon as your identity is accepted - an advance that has to be paid back over time, but might help you with cashflow right now. (Since you mention having to borrow money you presumably don't have too high savings, unless it's capital locked away in a second home or something.)

huckster

Yes you still attend the JSA appointment to confirm your claim and complete actions for the period you need the claim.

Worpy1

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81910837#Comment_81910837

Thanks I wasn't aware of this I have never claimed any sort of benefit previously so I have just put an application in for UC hopefully it is actioned a bit quicker than JSA

Altior

An adjacent option (if you've not used it yet) is that the mortgage charter allows you to go 6 months interest only, with no negative impacts to credit record etc. As the capital balance is not reducing over that time, it will mean slightly more interest in the long run. But it is designed for times of financial distress, such as you're experiencing. Nearly all lenders have signed up to it, you should be able to find out exactly how your lender implements the mortgage charter on their customer facing website.

Grumpy_chap

When I have claimed JSA in the past, the payments have processed in advance of the first meeting. They recover the money if then found ineligible.

huckster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81911199#Comment_81911199

That does not happen any more under New Style JSA. The new claim appointment has to be attended at Job Centre to agree claimant commitment before any benefit is paid.

Grumpy_chap

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81911254#Comment_81911254

Thank you - processes seem to have been updated.

huckster

With New Style JSA, once ID verified at Job Centre appointment, they can request short term budgeting advance loan by calling JSA helpline. And then the advance would be deducted from future benefit payments.

Worpy1

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81911029#Comment_81911029

Thanks for this info having looked into it I wouldn't qualify as my fixed rate expires in November this year and you need to have at least 12 months left to qualify :-(

Altior

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81913160#Comment_81913160

Interesting, I've not read about that caveat before, it must be specific to your lender.

There is another option to extend the mortgage without a credit check (but not into retirement), however it has less immediate impact on the monthly payments. On the positive side, you should have the option to secure a new fixed rate up to 6 months before November, with the option of changing to a new like for like fixed rate if they offer a better one before the switch takes place.

You can read more the about the mortgage charter itself in this document Mortgage Charter