The New Style Jobseeker's Allowance Jobcentreplus meeting
The New Style Jobseeker's Allowance Jobcentreplus meeting
New Style Jobseekers Allowance (New Style JSA) is the name of a benefit that some people who are looking for work can get.
The money is to help to pay for your living costs when you are looking for work. Living costs include things like
rent
Rent is the money that you pay to live in your home when you have a
tenancy agreement
A Tenancy agreement is where the person renting a house, and the person who owns the house, agree on things like how much rent to pay, who will mend things like the cooker if they go wrong, and whether you are allowed pets.
. Your home belongs to a
landlord
A landlord is the owner of a property which they rent out to tenants. They can be a
council
A council is also called a
local authority
A local authority is also called a council. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live like schools,
social care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
(support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live. These include: schools, social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
, a housing association, or an individual person.
, but you have a right to live there as long as you follow the rules that are in your tenancy agreement.
, food and bills.
After you apply for New Style JSA,
the Department for Work and Pensions
The Department for Work and Pensions is sometimes called the DWP. It is part of
the government
The Government are the people who run the country. The Government decide how much tax people should pay and how things like the National Health Service (NHS) should work.
and manages payments and benefits like Universal Credit,
Personal Independence Payment
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is the name of a benefit that some people with a disability or health condition get. The money is to pay for extra help you might need to look after yourself and to get around. Some people who used to get
Disability Living Allowance
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is the name of a benefit that some people with a disability get. The money is to pay for extra help you might need to look after yourself and to get around. Disability Living Allowance is being replaced by a benefit called Personal
Independence
Independence means doing things on your own. Making your own choices.
Payment (PIP).
(DLA) now get PIP instead.
,
Employment
Employment means having a job.
and Support Allowance, and Income Support.
(DWP) might invite you to a meeting at your local Jobcentreplus.
You can take someone with you to the meeting if you need help.
You will have to take some ID with you to the meeting.
You will need to take some photo ID like a passport, driving licence or a Blue Badge.
You will also need to take something which proves your address.
For example:
- a
payslip
A payslip is a document that shows how much you have been paid and how much money was taken off to pay your taxes.
or pension statement from the last 6 months - a gas, electricity or water bill from the last 6 months
- a Council Tax bill from the last 6 months
- paperwork about your student loan.
You will also need to take something else which proves your ID.
For example:
- a P60
- a savings account book
- a personal cheque book
- a debit or credit card with a statement that has the card details on it
You can take another bill like a gas, electricity or water bill if it is from a different supplier.
If you have a
P45
A P45 is a form you get from your employer when you stop working for them.
you should take this to your
interview
An interview is a meeting where you talk to someone or a group of people about something. When you have an interview for a job, you have to answer questions and say why you would be good at the job. The person who gives the best answers is offered the job.
.
A P45 is a form you get from your employer when you stop working for them.
At the meeting, you will have to agree a plan before you get paid your New Style JSA money.
The plan is called your Claimant Commitment.
In the plan, you might have to agree:
- what you will do to look for work
- how many hours you will look for work each week.
You should only agree to do things that you can do.
Let the staff at the jobcentre know if there is anything in the plan which is too difficult for you to do and ask them to take it out.
If you do not do everything you promise to do in your plan, you might not get your New Style JSA money, or you might get less New Style JSA money.
After your meeting at your local Jobcentreplus, the DWP will write to you.
The letter will tell you if you can get New Style JSA.
If you can not get New Style JSA, the letter will tell you why.
If you can get New Style JSA, the letter will tell you how much money you will get.
If you can not get New Style JSA you do not need to do the things you agreed to do in your plan.
If you get New Style JSA you will have to go to meetings at your local Jobcentreplus every 1 to 2 weeks.
At the meetings you will have to prove what you have done to look for work.
For example, you could show the staff proof that you have applied for jobs or that you have been to interviews.
This
Easy Read
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was first published in April 2024.