Jobseekers allowance application

Rouniver

I have an appointment to apply for jobseekers allowance this week and I'm in the middle of filling out the form for my claim. I'm 31 and I live with my brother and his girlfriend atm.

They aren't keen on me putting how much they earn down on the application form. I'm not on the lease either so I pay them cash in hand every week towards the rent. Is it okay to leave their income blank? How would this affect my claim for jobseekers?

eastbono

Its okay to leave their income blank. What they earn has no bearing on your claim.

Rouniver

Thanks, I'll leave their income blank so.

Terpsichorean Master

And what about if it's your parents house, and they're retired?

Does that make a difference?

Also, the form specifically asks about their rent/mortgage payments, as well as looking for an attachment of receipt - does anyone know what's the situation wrt that and whether or not you're required to give them that information?

eastbono

If you are over 25 and living at home with your parents you dont have to provide any details of their income, rent or mortgage details and its not applicable to an over 25 claim.

Terpsichorean Master

eastbono wrote: »

If you are over 25 and living at home with your parents you dont have to provide any details of their income, rent or mortgage details and its not applicable to an over 25 claim.

Thanks for the response eastbono, it's appreciated.

I don't mean to be contradictory, especially as that's what I previously thought too, but aside from the mortgage/rent question, there's a section to fill out wrt Household Profile where it asks for Name/Age/Relationship to you/Occupation/Weekly earnings/SW or HS payment/Type of Payment for everyone that you live with - and this is included both in the claim form itself and the JA means test form, with absolutely no reference to over or under 25 age claims in that section on either form.

Are you absolutely sure it's still not applicable to an over 25 claim?

eastbono

You just need to put down the household profile..e.g. who lives in the house and their relationship to you. Obviously if its your spouse/partner then you will have to give details of their earnings but if its parents and you are over 25 you wont need to put down their income or rent/mortgage details.

Terpsichorean Master

OK, thanks a lot!

Thought that was the case myself, but it certainly appears otherwise from the way the forms are structured, whether intentional or otherwise.

It gives quite the strong impression that it's required though, without explaining, for parents and/or other family or housemates - such as the OP, that anyone over 25 is exempt from having to give that information.

Terpsichorean Master

One more quick question - is it ok to black out your account number details on the bank statement that's required?
Or is that mandatory/necessary information?

I'd be very wary of giving that info to anyone & I don't really trust the DSW's data protection provisions tbh, so would prefer to do so.
I usually do it with phone companies etc and it's never been an issue previously.

eastbono

You can if you want black out account number details. Its something I would do myself if using a bank statement as proof of address or similar.