Hello everyone I am hoping someone will be able to answer my question regarding my mortgage payments while I am on JSA.

Here is my dilemma. I was made redundant last year after 22 years as a civil servant. I received JSA contribution based for the maximum six months and have since been receiving JSA income based. I recently started to receive payments of my mortgage interest from the DWP. I have been offer a job - albeit a part time temporary job which will finish in January. My dilemma is will I have to wait nine months again before I can receive my mortgage interest payments again or is there a linking period between my two claims as I will have only been employed for around 4 months. I am reluctant to take a part time job if it means losing my interest payments and will have to wait nine months again when I reclaim in the new year. I am desperate to work and would love a full time job but this is the only job I have been offered.

I really don't know what to do and the DWP have been really unhelpful. They won't give me information without having my name and national insurance number and I don't want to give it if I decide not to take the temporary part time job and they say I've not been actively seeking employment.

Please help me.

Thanks Flippy

The mortgage section is a specialist area so the number you call which is a contact centre are unable to give advice as the majority have no benefit knowledge.

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/vol04.pdf

I found this section through browsing a link posted on a similar thread :o

Qualifying period for housing costs already served

23716 Most eligible housing costs have a QP (see DMG 23650 et seq). Such a QP may have to be served again following a break in entitlement to JSA(IB), ESA(IR) or IS. But there is a linking rule for cases where the QP has already been served when entitlement to JSA(IB), ESA(IR) or IS ends.

23717 The linking rule applies if1, immediately before entitlement ended, housing costs

1. were payable on the previous claim (in full or in part)
   

1. or
   
2. would have been payable (in full or in part) but for a non-dependant deduction (see DMG 23756 et seq).
   

23718 In such a case, treat the claimant as continuously in receipt of JSA(IB), ESA(IR) or IS for any period of 52 weeks or less1 during which they were not entitled because

1.

the claimant or partner

1.1

had started employment as an employed or S/E earner or

1 IS (Gen) Regs, Sch 3, para 14(13); IS (Gen) (JSA Consequential Amdts) Regs 96, reg 32; JSA Regs, Sch 2, para 13(15) & (18)(1)©; ESA Regs, Sch 6, para 15(18)

Vol 4 Amendment 34 July 2011

1.2

had increased their hours in such employment or

1.3

was taking active steps to become employed or S/E under a prescribed government scheme2 and

2.

the claimant or partner

2.1

was in remunerative work or

2.2

had income that exceeds the applicable amount. For IS this includes includes cases where the income was equal to the applicable amount.

1 IS (Gen) Regs, Sch 3, para 14(12); IS (Gen) (JSA Consequential Amdts) Regs 96, reg 32; JSA Regs, Sch 2, para 13(14) & 18(1)©; 2 reg 19(1)®(i) to (iii); ESA Regs, Sch 6, para 15(17)