Is anyone else on the bench now?

[uk contractor]

I'm in digital, creative services. London based.

Re JSA - my understanding is that if I'm LTD and have savings of over £16k I am not eligible?

Its under £6K nowadays. If you have a mortgage they expect you to downsize BEFORE claiming as well. If you own a car, boat, or holiday home you have to sell it. They will only give you the £317.87 per month minimum if you can demonstrate you have total assets below £6K & they also want to see all your bank, credit card, mortgage & savings statements for at least the last 6 months. Its also a criminal offence to disguise your financial situation by moving money between accounts, or transferring to relatives so for most people its not worth the potential prison time to hide this info but you would be amazed how many people do then feign ignorance! (which is not a defence!!).

[psychocandy]

Its under £6K nowadays. If you have a mortgage they expect you to downsize BEFORE claiming as well. If you own a car, boat, or holiday home you have to sell it. They will only give you the £317.87 per month minimum if you can demonstrate you have total assets below £6K & they also want to see all your bank, credit card, mortgage & savings statements for at least the last 6 months. Its also a criminal offence to disguise your financial situation by moving money between accounts, or transferring to relatives so for most people its not worth the potential prison time to hide this info but you would be amazed how many people do then feign ignorance! (which is not a defence!!).

Do they still do contribution based and income based JSA? i.e. contribution one you can get even if you're partner is working.

It used to be 16K Im sure. I remember at the time I had about £16k so was ok. Are you sure they make you sell things? When I did it the rule was basically, 6 months leave you alone to get the job you want, after that they expect you to accept any job.

Does bring up the argument that you can sit on your arse, blow the lot and save nothing but work all you're life lose you're job, and get sod all.

[northernladuk]

Does bring up the argument that you can sit on your arse, blow the lot and save nothing but work all you're life lose you're job, and get sod all.

Or even worse, be in the top 5% income bracket in the country and still scrounge off the system in between gigs.

[uk contractor]

Do they still do contribution based and income based JSA? i.e. contribution one you can get even if you're partner is working.

It used to be 16K Im sure. I remember at the time I had about £16k so was ok. Are you sure they make you sell things? When I did it the rule was basically, 6 months leave you alone to get the job you want, after that they expect you to accept any job.

Does bring up the argument that you can sit on your arse, blow the lot and save nothing but work all you're life lose you're job, and get sod all.

Nope its £6K max combined! Now its way tighter to even get crumbs due to all the imported citizens milking the system dry as a bone! They tell you to sell homes, cars & any other assets of value BEFORE your claim will be accepted. You do not have to sell anything but they will not give you anything if you are a mortgage holder they expect you to downsize & sell it then live on the capital until you find another job. Its quite literally now a last resort system to help genuine people get the minimum to live on but it fails miserably as its very poorly implemented & punishes those in true need but rewards workers who are here from other lands doing zero hour contracts as it tops their salaries up to £750 per week if they have 2 kids & are married with a spouse!!

[molsang]

Or even worse, be in the top 5% income bracket in the country and still scrounge off the system in between gigs.

Agree, i came from foreign land and did extremely successful innings in freelancing for past ten years, have not ever thought that can look for any kind of benefits, eventually returning back to foreign land as well as my 'foreign land' is leaping ahead far and far.

[northernladuk]

Agree, i came from foreign land and did extremely successful innings in freelancing for past ten years, have not ever thought that can look for any kind of benefits, eventually returning back to foreign land as well as my 'foreign land' is leaping ahead far and far

No winking in prof forums please. You'll be heading for the land of ban if you do.

[psychocandy]

Or even worse, be in the top 5% income bracket in the country and still scrounge off the system in between gigs.

Hard times can come to us all NLUK. Got florida holidays to pay for after all...

[psychocandy]

Nope its £6K max combined! Now its way tighter to even get crumbs due to all the imported citizens milking the system dry as a bone! They tell you to sell homes, cars & any other assets of value BEFORE your claim will be accepted. You do not have to sell anything but they will not give you anything if you are a mortgage holder they expect you to downsize & sell it then live on the capital until you find another job. Its quite literally now a last resort system to help genuine people get the minimum to live on but it fails miserably as its very poorly implemented & punishes those in true need but rewards workers who are here from other lands doing zero hour contracts as it tops their salaries up to £750 per week if they have 2 kids & are married with a spouse!!

OK. You got me. Its not changed like that at all has it?

[northernladuk]

Hard times can come to us all NLUK. Got florida holidays to pay for after all...

Funny that Florida appears to be the holiday of choice for benefits cheats

GBP35,000 Telford benefits cheat avoids going to prison | Shropshire Star

Snapped: the man who wrestles alligators but is 'too disabled' to get a job - Telegraph

[psychocandy]

Funny that Florida appears to be the holiday of choice for benefits cheats

GBP35,000 Telford benefits cheat avoids going to prison | Shropshire Star

Snapped: the man who wrestles alligators but is 'too disabled' to get a job - Telegraph

Feck Im busted!!!

To be fair NLUK, whereas my benefit claiming activities a few years ago could be considered a little borderline unethical it was all perfectly 100% above board and legal.