single parent benefit advise pls

shin12 · 19-09-2014 6:44pm #1

hi there,

I was wondering if you could help me. I gave birth in feb this yr before this I was on jsa for 6 months. after the birth I continued to claim jsa as I thought this was the right benefit. however I am a single parent and am now being told by a citizens advice I should be on single parent benefit ? with the payment on top for my son and maintenance assessed as 50 per cent means .I never applied for single parent benefit as I didn't think I was entitled as I was receiving maintenance. I am now worried they may claw back the jsa and not give me back pay from the one benefit. Can you give me any advice on this. ? I would only be 2.50 euros better off but I want to be straight I am just worried now they will take it all back and I wont get single parent back pay.

myshirt · 19-09-2014 7:21pm

On the basis that you qualify, it may be a no gain/no loss situation for the state.

Fill out the form for the One Parent, and put it in. Use the citizens information service for advice, as you have been doing. The net result may be that there is no issue, but if there has been an overpayment then there has been an overpayment and you'll just have to work that out.

Honesty is the best policy. And when you are honest, these people will work with you to sort it out.

The critical thing is you and your baby's wellbeing will be ok. No one is going to demand large sums from you, or leave you destitute.

MouseTail · 19-09-2014 8:21pm

You don't have to go on lone parents, you can stay on JSA if it is more advantageous for you (but you must declare the maintenance).
The main difference is people on lone parents are not expected to be actively seeking work.

cee_jay · 19-09-2014 9:32pm

I could be wrong but I read the OP as OFP would be more advantageous for them, and they would like it back paid to the birth?
If so, you would have no entitlement to the back pay. For OFP, if you apply within 3 months of the birth, it will be automatically paid from the first Thursday after the birth. Otherwise it will be paid from application date. Only if exceptional circumstances exist can it be backdated - not knowing of your entitlement is not seen as an exceptional circumstance.

shin12 · 20-09-2014 11:57am

sorry could you explain is the op me and ofp one parent family. will then claw back the jsa from the birth to now if they do then I would be in a financial mess unless the ofp is backpaid . it was a genuine mistake and I didn't apply for ofp as I was receiving maintenance. Am I allowed to just stay on jsa ?

shin12 · 20-09-2014 12:15pm

try to edit post but it wont let me I meant to say 'will they claw back the jsa from the birth to now

shin12 · 20-09-2014 12:19pm

MouseTail wrote: »

You don't have to go on lone parents, you can stay on JSA if it is more advantageous for you (but you must declare the maintenance).
The main difference is people on lone parents are not expected to be actively seeking work.

so its ok that I have been claiming jsa they wont claw back . I haven't applied for any money for the child as I get maintenance ,the lady is citizens advise said I would only be 2.50 euros a wk better of on one parent benefit. I just don't want the money clawed back if they do this and don't back pay one parent family I am in big financial trouble so from this point of view should I and can i just stay on jsa. do I qualify if I am job seeking ?

danois · 20-09-2014 12:20pm

shin12 wrote: »

try to edit post but it wont let me I meant to say 'will they claw back the jsa from the birth to now

No they won't look for job seekers back. You were entitled to it if you were looking for work. It will basically be swapping from one payment to another. Your jobseekers should stop as soon as your opf is started.

shin12 · 20-09-2014 12:26pm

thanks I will swap if this is deffo the case , I just don't want them saying I should have switched the opf as soon as my baby was born as they could argue I wasn't fit for work after the birth.

shin12 · 20-09-2014 3:07pm

cee_jay wrote: »

I could be wrong but I read the OP as OFP would be more advantageous for them, and they would like it back paid to the birth?
If so, you would have no entitlement to the back pay. For OFP, if you apply within 3 months of the birth, it will be automatically paid from the first Thursday after the birth. Otherwise it will be paid from application date. Only if exceptional circumstances exist can it be backdated - not knowing of your entitlement is not seen as an exceptional circumstance.

Hi CJ

Do you know if they can claw back jsa ?

ShaShaBear · 21-09-2014 1:36pm

shin12 wrote: »

Hi CJ

Do you know if they can claw back jsa ?

Shin they cannot take back the JSA you were on as you are legally entitled to claim it for yourself and any child dependants you have whether you are a single mother or not. You are exempt from signing and jobseeking a few weeks before and after the birth of your baby without it affecting your claim. If you go into the office and ask to be placed on OPFP all that will happen is the following week instead of collecting Jobseekers, you will collect OPFP instead. They don't take the money back off you because you were entitled to get it anyway.

shin12 · 21-09-2014 2:37pm

Thanks cj, but won't I have to fill in the application for opf and then wait a while while its assessed?

ShaShaBear · 21-09-2014 2:46pm

shin12 wrote: »

Thanks cj, but won't I have to fill in the application for opf and then wait a while while its assessed?

They will continue to give you the payment you are on, but if you go into your office the same day that you collect your payment, you probably won't be waiting any longer than a week.

single parent benefit advise pls

Comments