Can anyone advise on Jobseekers allowance please?

[1stlifeline]

My sister has not worked for the last 2 years due to ill health and family problems. During this time she has never claimed any benefits. However she has now decided to return to work. Can she claim job seekers allowance as she is now actively seeking work or is it based on contributions from the previous years employment?

[darrenphil]

Hi there, she can claim JSA (INCOME BASED) that is if she has no other income including from a partner with whom she lives with as its all taken into account and deducted from the JSA rate of £59.15 per week! If she had worked for the past two years she could have got JSA (CONTRIBUTION) but this is only paid for for 6 months and you have to apply for the Income based anyway! good old Uk?

[1stlifeline]

Thanks Darren. She house shares with a friend, they are not partners and dont live as a couple but he does work so will his wage be taken into consideration?

[darrenphil]

Hi again! unfortunatly she may have a problem. as she lives with somebody else (Male or Female) she will be interviewed at home or in the Jobcentre to establish if they are LIVING as a couple (not if they are a couple!) if they find they are? they will not pay the benefit but your Sis has the right of appeal. ho hum! However, if they find they are not then she will obviously recieve the benefit and also half of the rent on the accommodation and half the council tax. so its worth the try. ( and tell her (as long as she has nothing to declare lol) they the interview is standard & harmless!

 

p.s: if she is not interested in claiming the benefit itself, she can walk into any jobcentre and view the job points which will show her every job available across the EEC! YIPPEE?

[sequenci]

can't she just state that she lives in a shared house? would that be possible?

[darrenphil]

Hi, yes she could. however if shes lucky they will let it go through? if not, they will still do the interview! its really pot luck and in which area you live and the staffing to do the interview.

 

sorry its a hassle i know!

[darrenphil]

p.s. they can also check the address & see whos ever lived there and when and whos there now!!

[alibobsy]

Normally if someone is in Student type shared accomadation ie, 3 or more sharing this is normally classed as all individuals. Where there are 2 people at one address they will have to complete an LT1 form at the initial work focused interview an officer on the appropriate section will look at this and decide if they feel a visit to the home address is required or if they can be treated as not living together. They tend to look at what bills are shared, what rooms are shared, if they socialise together etc for the purposes of the law it is not an emotional or sexual link that has to be established it is just a financial link. I know for a fact the number of visiting officers has been cut along with all the other job cuts in the DWP so they are visiting less and less claims. Unfortunately you have to go through the whole process to claim. All this goes back to the fact that the government rate for a couple is lower than the rate for 2 single people.

ali x

[alibobsy]

BTW they will also ask what she has lived off for the last 2 years if she has not been on benefits just to make sure she hasn't got a few thousand stashed away lol.

ali x

[stevemilner]

Can you still claim unemployment benefit / jobseekers allowance even though your savings are above the allowed threshold (whatever that is) ?

[robin9342]

Can you still claim unemployment benefit / jobseekers allowance even though your savings are above the allowed threshold (whatever that is) ?

no, that would be fraud!

 

The current thresholds are: Up to £6000 savings - benefit unaffected, £6000 - £16000 - benefit reduced in proportion, £16000+ no entitlement to benefit.

[kymmykymkym]

please please can somebody help me? i cant work out how to start my own post off so il have to hope somebody read this here...

 

im claiming jobseekers allowance, and due to having nowhere to live im having to go and stay with my boyfriend and his family at their house. he is also claiming jobseekers allowance. will this affect any money at all? i really dont want to mess up his claim

 

id be most grateful if anybody has any information that could help

 

kym

[robin9342]

You will definitely have to let the Jobcentre know. If they treat you as partners, your joint claim will work out a bit less than two single claims.

 

If your boyfriend or his family are in receipt of any other benefits such as council tax benefit, housing benefit or tax credits, then you must let them know too.

[alibobsy]

Can you still claim unemployment benefit / jobseekers allowance even though your savings are above the allowed threshold (whatever that is) ?

 

Sorry didn't reply to this at the time, but for future info you can claim, and you will get a "nil" award because of the income. However you would still be expected to sign on to qualify for your NI credits.

 

For the other posters all couples (same sex or not) living at the same address would be considered for possible living together action. The most recent poster states they are boyfriend and girlfriend, so they are very likely to be declared as living together for JSA purposes.

 

Ali x

[389shell]

Can I just ask with the OP in mind, whether they will be entitled to sign on as they have not worked or claimed anything for 2 years, therefore no NI contributions. Not sure how this works?

[Zamzara]

Can I just ask with the OP in mind, whether they will be entitled to sign on as they have not worked or claimed anything for 2 years, therefore no NI contributions. Not sure how this works?

 

If the claimant has paid sufficient contributions they can get contribution based JSA, which is paid regardless of savings and partner's income.

 

 

If they have not paid sufficient contributions, they can claim income based JSA but this is means tested against savings and other income including those of a partner.

[389shell]

Thanks Zamzara for clearing that up.