Jobseeker's Allowance cut in half ??

Berserker · 8 Dec 2009 at 19:29

it's no wonder people don't do voluntary work. If you do, bang goes your JSA.

I had a quick look at my finances to see how well I'd manage on JSA a few weeks ago. Answer - I wouldn't. At least not until contracts for things like Sky ran out and I could cancel them. Even then I'd struggle.

zovirax · 8 Dec 2009 at 19:31

seek said:
No, I'm well aware of what it is. Around the £60 per week mark.

Fine for people in between jobs.

Disgusting for those who live with their parents and claim it long-term (6 months +), and spend it on DVD's, Games and beer/smokes.

DVDs as well. jesus christ. I struggle just with beer and fags. I get £128.60 a fortnight as Im 25. When I was on incapacity benefit I got £183 or so.

Indy500 · 8 Dec 2009 at 19:32

Amnesia said:
why would an immigrant get more money, a car and a mobile phone ?

An asylum seeker may well get a lot more, but a regular immigrant - no.

Berserker said:
it's no wonder people don't do voluntary work. If you do, bang goes your JSA.

I had a quick look at my finances to see how well I'd manage on JSA a few weeks ago. Answer - I wouldn't. At least not until contracts for things like Sky ran out and I could cancel them. Even then I'd struggle.

Far as I know they don't count unpaid work (work trials that are pre-agreed, and volunteering for charities).

jellybeard999 · 8 Dec 2009 at 19:46

seek said:
Of course not.

I have a 'friend' who lives with his mother and claims both. I think it's utterly disgusting that he gets away with it.

He seems to have no intention of getting a job, yet he gets free board/food/bills etc and yet the government are happy to pay him benefits on top of that.

The worst part is he spends all his money on games/DVD's and then comes to the pub and pleads poverty in the hope of getting others to buy him drinks.

And I suspect this isn't just him, but a growing culture amongst people in their early twenties for doing this kind of thing.

Your friend shouldn't be claiming HB. His mother can claim either HB (if no income in the household) or possibly 2nd Adult Rebate, but he can't claim anything.

Amp34 · 8 Dec 2009 at 19:48

Hey, just be glad you get yours at all. It took them 2 months before they sent my first installment, by which time I had already signed back off and got a job. Luckily I wasn't absolutely desperate for money... :rolleyes:

Amp34 · 8 Dec 2009 at 19:50

sr4470 said:
An asylum seeker may well get a lot more, but a regular immigrant - no.

Far as I know they don't count unpaid work (work trials that are pre-agreed, and volunteering for charities).

They don't count it as long as it is part time (under about 20 hours per week during the week or something like that), full time voluntary work WHILST looking for a job will void your JSA claim. Which means that instead of actually doing something useful with your time you have to sit at home and do nothing.

Matteysan · 8 Dec 2009 at 19:52

jellybeard999 said:
Your friend shouldn't be claiming HB. His mother can claim either HB (if no income in the household) or possibly 2nd Adult Rebate, but he can't claim anything.

That much is true, they wouldn't let me have HB because I live with parents, the parents are meant to foot the bill

Rroff · 8 Dec 2009 at 19:56

Moral of the story - there is no room for honesty and JSA... give them an inch and they will take a mile.

Geckovich · 8 Dec 2009 at 20:07

Amp34 said:
They don't count it as long as it is part time (under about 20 hours per week during the week or something like that), full time voluntary work WHILST looking for a job will void your JSA claim. Which means that instead of actually doing something useful with your time you have to sit at home and do nothing.

Yep, when I had to sign on for a short period I decided to do some voluntary work (filled the void on the CV and kept me busy). As soon as I mentioned it I was told I was no longer able to claim as I was technically employed.

During this same period (different fortnight) I went to Dublin for 2 days for a job interview. When I returned home I was told that I had to be signed off, then sign back on again as I'd been on holiday abroad.

They're a strange bunch.

arknor · 8 Dec 2009 at 20:20

aproctor said:
JSA is nothing, you would weep at what is paid out in terms of Housing benefit.

my sister gets i believe it to be around 400quid a month in housing benefits she is a tenant of a private landlord and her rent is around 480 she makes up the extra
she has it tough though single mum with 4 kids , one has parkinsons disease.

simpletom · 8 Dec 2009 at 20:20

thevet said:
pretend your an immigrant and you will get more money,a house,a car and a mobile phone all for completely free!...On the other hand you could say what you have already said but they will most probably give you nothing that an immigrant gets and half your income that your entitled too..

Sinque said:
I guess you support the BNP.

If BNP is euphemistic for ignorant, then maybe.

I really don't know where people get the idea of asylum seekers getting free mobile phones and cars from...

person · 8 Dec 2009 at 20:57

seek said:
No, I'm well aware of what it is. Around the £60 per week mark.

Fine for people in between jobs.

Disgusting for those who live with their parents and claim it long-term (6 months +), and spend it on DVD's, Games and beer/smokes.

its £60 + if your over a certain age .. if I was on it id get like £50 I can't claim it though as students can't so currently have to live off what I get from uni and try to find a part time job which isnt prooveing easy.

"andy" · 8 Dec 2009 at 21:40

seek said:
Disgusting for those who live with their parents and claim it long-term (6 months +), and spend it on DVD's, Games and beer/smokes.

this isnt even possible is it ?

you have to be a 'proper' tennant with tennancy agreement and the houseowner cant be someone related too you. infact just sharing the house with a family member eg brother/sister causes all sorts of problems

i honestly suspect your 'friend' gets handouts from his mum or is taking loans etc and is ashamed to admit it

simpletom · 8 Dec 2009 at 21:53

"andy" said:
this isnt even possible is it ?

you have to be a 'proper' tennant with tennancy agreement and the houseowner cant be someone related too you. infact just sharing the house with a family member eg brother/sister causes all sorts of problems

i honestly suspect your 'friend' gets handouts from his mum or is taking loans etc and is ashamed to admit it

You will have HB deducted for non-dependants. IIRC it was about £9 p/w or something. This was a long time ago when I worked in the housing sector. There is some serious misinformation being bandied around in this thread.

Edit:

http://www.tameside.gov.uk/housingbenefit/nondependentdeductions

Okay, I was £1.60 off.

Amnesia · 8 Dec 2009 at 21:59

"andy" said:
this isnt even possible is it ?

you have to be a 'proper' tennant with tennancy agreement and the houseowner cant be someone related too you. infact just sharing the house with a family member eg brother/sister causes all sorts of problems

i honestly suspect your 'friend' gets handouts from his mum or is taking loans etc and is ashamed to admit it

i think the rules have changed...you can rent from family members now but just not parents....so the house could be on someone elses name.

"andy" · 8 Dec 2009 at 22:11

madness ! i just remember my old housemate having problems when he had to claim because by massive massive co incidence he had the same surname as our landlord !

richieboy · 8 Dec 2009 at 22:15

Amnesia said:
why would an immigrant get more money, a car and a mobile phone ?

You mean, you don't know?

http://www.thesun.co.uk

Apparently they're stealing our jobs and stuff oh AND claiming for special benefits which gives them £74,000 a year and a car and a mobile phone and a cat and a brush for that cat.

~>Dg<~ · 8 Dec 2009 at 22:31

Berserker said:
it's no wonder people don't do voluntary work. If you do, bang goes your JSA.

I had a quick look at my finances to see how well I'd manage on JSA a few weeks ago. Answer - I wouldn't. At least not until contracts for things like Sky ran out and I could cancel them. Even then I'd struggle.

voluntry work or unpaid doesnt effect it

Fiocca · 8 Dec 2009 at 22:40

It all sucks. I've been on jsa and just moved into a flat like 2 weeks ago. Now i only moved in cos i was going to get housing benefit and CTB paid for me. I managed to get a job just after moving in and they have stopped my benefits allready!

Problem is, the work is only christmas work, my landlord hasnt had a penny yet and i wont get any cash from the job (which is less than what i would get on benefits by a good 3-400) until jan sometime. So i now have no idea how the hell im going to give my landlord any rent this month!! I would be better off not bothering to work unless it's well paid full time.

I'm really worried now as i have no idea where to get the money at all

aproctor · 8 Dec 2009 at 22:45

Fiocca said:
I'm really worried now as i have no idea where to get the money at all

Whenever a change in circumstances occurs that may change benefit they will suspend it.

They will ask you to provide information, when you do they will pay you for the time you are entitled.

Any landlord that rents to dss tenants knows the score and as long as you tell him what is happening i would be suprised if there is an issue.

If he has an issue give him authority to discuss your claim with the council and they will be more than happy to tell him what money you will/might/won't get and a timeframe.