JSA and mortgage interest paid - HELP!!!!

[lifeisnotfair]

Hi All, newbie here,

 

I have just been given notice of redudancy - I officially am redudant from 1st July but on garden leave from 1st May.

 

I am obvisuly trying to find another job quick but trying to find out whaty benefits I will get if I can not.

 

Bit more info; single dad, 2 kids live with me (7 & 5).

 

I have got nowhere with JObCentre Plus, CAB etc - no-one will tell me anything until I claim JSA!!

 

However, upon trawling the DWP site, the direct gov and loads of other sites; it would appear that if I receive "income based" JSA my interest on my morgage will be paid by the government. However, it would appear as I have been working that I will be on the "contribution based" JSA and therefore will not get my interest paid.

 

is this correct ? if so I'm being punished for working rather than sitting on my but!

 

hope someone can shed some light -

 

Also when do I make a JSA and other benefits claim - now or do I have to qait until 1st July ?

[enamae]

Site where you can calculate what benefits you are entitled to;

 

Here

 

 

 

 

enamae

[ErikaPNP]

As a single parent with children under the age of 12, you have an automatic entitlement to claim Income Support, and your tax credit award will be adjusted when you inform them of the change in your circumstances. The amount of Income Support you will get will depend on any other income you have and capital you have.

 

As part of your Income Support claim, you should begin to receive mortgage interest relief after the 13th week of your claim. It used to be after 39 weeks (some cases 26 weeks) however this changed in January of this year. You can only claim help on mortgages up to the value of £200,000. This used to be £100,000 but again this changed in January.

 

Also, with Income Based Jobseekers Allowance, you can only claim interest relief for a maximum of two years. Given the state of the country with the recession at the moment, finding secure employment could prove difficult. If you claimed Income Support, there is no time limit on how long you can claim mortgage interest relief.

 

The rates for Income Based Jobseekers Allowance and Income Support are exactly the same, £64.30 per week - if you are aged over 25. (This is from April of this year). That is just for you, and could be reduced depending on any other income/capital. You will also get tax credit for your children, here is a link to the rates for this year: HM Revenue & Customs: Rates and Allowances - Tax Credits/Child Benefit

 

Your children would also be entitled to free school meals and you may be able to claim school uniform grants for them too. Hope this is helpful

[lifeisnotfair]

Erika many thanks for that, no-one has mentioned I should automatically claim income support and I have spoken to JObCentre Plus, my council and my CAB!!! and they all state contribution based JSA only - is there an official paper on what you have said that I can quote when I apply to the jobcentre plus...

 

also as I am on garden leave until 1st July can I make a claim now or have to wait until 1st july...

 

many thanks again

[cherylc1107]

check out the job centre website this gives you the information about benefits you can get. www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk.

 

I to have rencently made redundant and also a single parent i was offered at the job centre if i wanted to take income support or jsa i opted for income support.. just tell them because you are a single parent you want income support.

[ErikaPNP]

Yep, as you are a lone parent with a child under the age of 12 you can claim it (provided you received the child benefit for your children). Links:

 

Jobcentre Plus - Working Age Benefits Income Support

 

Income Support : Directgov - Money, tax and benefits

 

DWP - Advisers - Changes to benefits for lone parents

 

And here, the first sentance in paragraph 2. http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/dwp/dmg/memletrs/m-45-08.pdf

 

 

The regulation which states you do not have to be "available for work" and thus claim income support: The Income Support (General) Regulations 1987

 

The amendment regulations: The Social Security (Lone Parents and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2008 No.

 

Note: The REGULATIONS is the legislation for claims. It cannot be argued with, it is the law that decision makers must apply to claims.

 

Hope this is what you were looking for. - oh - Income Support is just that, support for your income. The amount for a person over 25 is £64.30 per week, the same rate as Income Based Jobseekers, however it can be adjusted depending on your income and capital. If you currently have income or capital above the threshold, your claim would fail. You can make a claim for benefit at any time, however if you don't satisfy the qualifying conditions and the set criteria as regards income and capital at the "date of claim" (the date the office receives your claim form) your claim will fail. A likelihood or even certainty of satisfying the conditions at a date in the future would not qualify you.

Edited April 17, 2009 by ErikaPNP