Switching from income-based JSA to Income Support -how and when do I tell Jobcentre?

[Capsicum]

Hello,

I am currently on income-based Job Seeker's Allowance and have read that 11 weeks before your due date you are supposed to be switched to Income Support.

Does anyone know the process for doing this? I haven't officially "told" the Job Centre Plus that I'm pregnant yet. Do I need to call them up or mention it next time I'm signing on? And when do I need to tell them? (I'm 25 weeks pregnant at the moment).

Any advice from people who have already gone through this process would be gratefully received!

 

[expecting09]

I can't totally remember what happened with me.. even though it wasn't that long ago lol! I had a special interview once a month when I was on JSA and the woman knew I was pregnant, I remember phoning the income support line and applying for it, so it's not technically switching from one straight to the other, you have to make a new claim for income support. My interviewer at the job center just 'signed me off' JSA when I turned 29 weeks, then the day after I phoned for income support

Sorry that probably wasn't much help. I'm sure if you tell the jobcenter when you next go to sign on they would be able to go through the process with you x

 

[I<3paul]

Hiya,

I work for them, there is no point in trying to apply for income support until you are exactly 11 weeks before your due date because the system just wont accept it. So ring on that day and apply for it, when you go for your next JSA appointment tell your advisor that your pregnant and when you are due. The Job Centre might need to close down your JSA claim before you can apply which can take some time so when you're about 12 weeks before your due date tell the jobcentre so that by the time you apply everything should be sorted out.

Try and save up a little bit just incase you are left without payment for a week or so. This does happen sometimes because with the recession there is such a back log of work to get through.

Hope this helps x

 

[I<3paul]

Hiya,

I work for them, there is no point in trying to apply for income support until you are exactly 11 weeks before your due date because the system just wont accept it. So ring on that day and apply for it, when you go for your next JSA appointment tell your advisor that your pregnant and when you are due. The Job Centre might need to close down your JSA claim before you can apply which can take some time so when you're about 12 weeks before your due date tell the jobcentre so that by the time you apply everything should be sorted out.

Try and save up a little bit just incase you are left without payment for a week or so. This does happen sometimes because with the recession there is such a back log of work to get through.

Hope this helps x

 

[Capsicum]

Thank you both - that was very helpful.

 

[Jetters]

Sorry for hijacking your thread... but what are the benefits of switching? Is IS more money than JSA??

 

[mum2beagain]

jetters-- our not alowed to stay on jsa coz u cant be activly seeking empolyment plus u have to sign on every 2 weeks at the job centre on jsa and income support is sightly more yes x

 

[Jetters]

Ahhh ok!! Thanks just wondered why x