Jobseekers Allowance home visit

LegacyUser

Hi all,

Im under 25 and Ive been trying to sign on and claim benefits (Jobseekers Allowance) and have to do a 'means test'. Ive already been into my local office with all sorts of what I consider very personal information concerning my parent's income/mortgage etc and now I have to have someone come to my house and inspect it?!

Im starting to stress a bit because Ive no idea what theyre looking for if theyre coming to my house. We've nothing to hide but I find it a huge invasion of privacy... are they going to start snooping around etc and checking out warddrobes and the likes? Needless to say my parents arent very happy with the idea either!

I find it amazing how difficult it seems to claim benefits for genuine reasons. I have friends in the UK who have basically just shown up at the office and been able to collect the same week!!

Has anyone had someone visit their house for a 'means test' before and what do they do? Thanks.

Victor

I've not heard of it for Jobseekers Allowance, but it is common for rent allowance.

I imagine its going to be fairly superficial, mostly to prove that you do live there and they'll go through the paperwork.

The information they seek is so they can calculate how much you are entitled to. No paperwork, no money.

Cheap Thrills!

They are not interested in what is in the wardrobes unless its mink coats, and as for privacy and 'personal information', please.

It ceases to be personal information when you are about to claim assistance from the state.

They just want to see that you are not living in a mansion in the lap of luxury before wasting taxpayers money, which is perfectly good practice akaiac.

PirateShampoo

Ive been means tested twice, they arnt actually intrested in your house, the women who did me only came into the dinning room and never saw the rest of the house. Just 1 thing though, when she asks you what the current value of your house dont try and make out its holding its price. if you payed 400k say its only worth 200k now and your in negitive equity.

Uve got nothing to worry about,

LegacyUser

Ok thanks everyone, guess I was stressing over nothing then!

Cheers

universe777

OP, don't worry, they only want to see you are not living in a mansion as others have said.
They will only stay for maybe 10 mins and won't look throughout your house. Maybe don't bring them into the 'good room', every house has one...

Also, if you have an expensive laptop, iphone, playstation etc, put them in another room before the welfare person comes.
When they visited me a couple of years ago I wasn't expecting it, but didn't have to hide anything.

krudler

My flatmate had this, they basically call to the door and as long as you answer, have a key and say you live there, thats it, takes all of 30 seconds

tenchi-fan

Do you live with yoru parents?

They probably just want evidence that you're actually living there and not with say, your partner who is earning a wage (in which case you'd be means-tested on your partner's wage and assets rather than your parents)

Satyr_The_Great

if you are over 25 and living at home, and have less than 20k in savings, you will get the full amount. If you are living on your own I am not so sure there BUT if you can show you have bills to pay and rent then there should be no problem. The means test is not as harsh as most people think.

dave 27

man just mess your house up a bit, making the person think that ye're messy and poor, also have loads of underware draped around the lamps with skid marks on them and everything to make them think yere dirty and poor;)

Zaph

dave27, I suggest you read the part of the charter dealing with unhelpful posts before you post here again.

Darthhoob

not heard of that before, but then i am in england.

over here we have a person from the council inspect our house every 3 months...but that is because it is a private rented house and the cuncil pay the housing benefit whilst we are in reciept of JSA (also they helped us get the place as we were declared homeless, so paid the deposit for us and we are paying it back)

but i've not heard of it purely for JSA though? i doubt very much they will do any snooping. they maybe just wanna make sure you actually live there...or if it is like my situation...they just check you've not damaged the place....my house is always a tip and she doesn't give a damn about that LOL