Care and support

Jobseeker's allowance

If you don't get income support or employment & support allowance, you may be able to claim jobseeker's allowance, which is the benefit for people who have to sign on as unemployed. Jobseeker's allowance has two parts: contribution-based and income-based.

Contribution-based jobseeker's allowance is paid if you have worked and paid National Insurance contributions over the 2 previous tax years. Contribution-based jobseeker's allowance is only paid for a maximum of 6 months. There are very few 16-17 year olds who qualify for this.

Income-based jobseeker's allowance is means-tested and is only paid if you meet certain rules and your income and savings are below certain levels.

You cannot get jobseeker's allowance if you are in full-time non-advanced education (studying for 16 or more hours a week, doing 'A' levels, BTEC or equivalent) but some part-time students can qualify.

Income-based jobseeker's allowance for 16 and 17 year olds

If you are 18 or over, you can claim JSA without any special rules applying.

There are four ways that you might get income-based jobseeker’s allowance if you are 16 or 17.

1) You can claim if you are:

• Laid off or on short term working (for up to 13 weeks);
• Enlisting in the armed forces within the next 8 weeks;
• One of a couple with a child.

2) You might be able to get income-based jobseeker’s allowance for 20 weeks after you have left school, college or a training scheme like E2E where your parents could get child benefit for you. This is known as the child benefit extension period. For example, if you leave school or college in June 2009, you can claim JSA under this rule until late November 2009 (20 weeks on from the date you officially left school) but only if you also meet the rules set out below:-

• you have to register for work or training at the careers/connexions service and
• have no parents or anyone acting as your parents; or
• you live away from your parents or anyone acting as parents, and immediately before age 16 you were in custody (there are special rules for care leavers and people in care - see later section); or
• you live away from your parents or anyone acting as your parents because of physical or sexual abuse, or because you need special accommodation for your disability, or you are under supervision of the Probation Service (there are special rules for care leavers and people in care - see later section); or
• you are married and your partner can claim, e.g. because s/he is aged 18 or over or has a child; or
• you live away from parents or people acting as parents because you are estranged from them. See later section for more about estrangement.

3) You can claim income based jobseeker’s allowance after the child benefit extension period if you have been discharged from youth custody and you are in one of the groups entitled during the child benefit extension period. Jobseeker’s allowance will be paid for up to 8 weeks from the date of your discharge.

4) If you do not fall into any of the above groups, you may still get jobseeker's allowance on a discretionary basis. This is known as JSA (severe hardship). Decisions on severe hardship are made by special staff at jobcentre plus, who have to check with a central office in Sheffield if they intend to refuse your claim. You don't have the right to an independent appeal if you are refused money under 'severe hardship' but if you think they were wrong to turn you down, you can complain and ask them to look at the decision again.

You should insist on your right to make a claim for JSA (severe hardship) and not be turned away by reception staff at jobcentre plus, as sometimes happens.

To get a payment, you will need to be looking for work or training.

Factors taken into account when deciding whether you are in severe hardship include:

• what money you've got;
• if you are homeless or at risk of being homeless;
• if you have any health problems, are pregnant or vulnerable;
• if you are trying to get a job or training;
• if anyone else can support you

If you think anything else is important, tell them!

JSA (severe hardship) can also be claimed if you live with your parents but they are not able to support you, e.g. because they are on benefits too.

One problem that often crops up is that jobcentre plus sometimes ask you to get a letter from your parents that confirms that you can’t live at home. Or they may ask for permission to contact your parents. In fact, that shouldn’t happen, as their own rules say that a parent doesn’t need to be contacted.

JSA (severe hardship)is normally paid in arrears. If payment is due immediately, the jobcentre plus office can make a payment over the counter. If you need money urgently, you should apply for a crisis loan from them (but this has to be paid back when your benefit starts).

JSA (severe hardship)usually lasts for 2 to 8 weeks at a time, depending on your circumstances. After that time, the jobcentre should look at your case again and make a new decision about whether you are still in severe hardship. They can keep your claim going.

If there is not enough information to decide your claim, they can make an interim decision to pay you for 1 or 2 weeks. If you are turned down, you can ask for a revision or reclaim if you can get more evidence of your severe hardship. Seek further advice if this happens to you.

Part time students aged 18 or over

You can still get JSA if you are unemployed but studying part-time. You have to meet certain rules. Your course has to be less than 16 hours a week and you have to convince jobcentre plus that you are looking for and available for work. You will have to promise that you will give the course up if a suitable job or training place comes up.

How do I claim income-based jobseeker's allowance?

If you are 16 or 17, you must register with the Connexions service for work and training; they will fill out a referral form for you to take to jobcentre plus.

If you are 18 or over, you can deal directly with jobcentre plus but you will be directed to use a call centre to lodge your claim (0800 055 6688).

Couples

There are special rules for couples who are unemployed. If you are both available for work, then you will both have to sign-on as unemployed and seeking work. This doesn’t apply if one of you is sick or you have a child. If you are part of a couple where one of you is unemployed and the other is in education or training, seek advice.

How much jobseeker's allowance will I get?

Contribution-based jobseeker's allowance if single is £50.95 if aged 16-24.

Income-based jobseeker's allowance is worked out in the same way as income support using the above figures - see earlier.

Passport to other benefits

If you qualify for income-based jobseeker's allowance you will get the same ‘extras’ that income support brings e.g. free prescriptions etc.

Living with your boyfriend or girlfriend?

If you are a young person living with your boyfriend or girlfriend, then get advice about claiming, because jobcentre plus will treat you as a couple. The amount you get if you are a couple can vary according to how old you are, whether you have children and on what basis you are getting benefit. Seek advice.