Income Based and Contribution Based JSA

[themalster]

Hi guys,

I know that IB JSA is based on your income and Contribution is based on your NI payments.

I have been out of work since October and claim JSA and I was put on the CB JSA. I then found out there was a possibility of help with mortgage interest payments as I had no income whatsoever and live alone. I filled out the form, sent it off to my mortgage company so they could fill out their part and they sent it off to Job Centre Plus who deal with the claim. I just phoned Job Centre Plus and they told me I would be on CB JSA til April 7th, and that help with mortgage interest is only for peole on IB JSA. At no point was I told this by my local Job Centre when I asked for the form.

Is this fair? I have had no income at all (apart from JSA) since October, have been living off handouts from parents and struggle to pay the mortgage, yet I'm told I am not eligible as I'm not on IB JSA.

The woman on the phone was quite rude and unhelpful. Does anyone know whether I should pursue this as I am struggling big time financially.

[whiskeryron]

check with local C.A.B

[factor-fiction]

There is no help available with mortages in your position if you are only on CB based JSA. I think that you have to wait 6 months before mortgage interest help is given.

Your contribution based JSA will stop in March anyway so you neeed to check on means tested entitlements.

Do you have any savings? Do you have any other income coming into the household. If not then ask if you can apply for income based JSA.

I think it's a good idea to try to build up savings when you are working to help you in case you lose your job.

[themalster]

Thank you, Factor30 for your reply.

Unfortunately, what savings i did have went on mortgage payments and childcare for my son. I have no other income apart from JSA.

When I first applied, I explained my situation, that I had lost my job, had no income and that I had a mortgage. I was just told that I'd be on CB JSA. Just think it's wrong seeing as I have no income whatsoever. I know I have no right to expect help, and I wish I wasn't jobless, but I wish they'd made all this clearer at the start. If I get a job before April then my JSA will be stopped obviously, thus losing out on the 6 months mortgage i've paid thru borrowing from my parents and using my savings.

[themas]

What should have been done was to make an application for both CB & IBJSA because your housing costs mean you have an entitlement to help with the interest. This help kicks in after being on IBJSA for 13 weeks. The result would have been that for 13 weeks you would have had just the CBJSA as the amount of that is the same as the IBJSA amount. So your IBJSA claim would have shown a nil payment for that period but after the 13 weeks the mortgage interest help would start.

It looks as if you have been wrongly advised by poorly trained JC+ staff. Do not just leave this. If you cannot get it sorted out with JC+ yourself then go to your local CAB or other free welfare benefits advice service. On the face of it, they should agree to backdate an IBJSA claim for you & pay the mortgage interest from 13 weeks after the start of your CBJSA.

Incidentally, the mortgage help is only with the interest & is limited to 2 years & has an upper limit of £200K mortgage.

[themalster]

Thank you themas

I will seek advice. I explained at the time of my application that I had no other income.