Job Seekers Allowance question

Hi - my STBX husband is financially pathetic. He has been unemployed for around 2 years and has been living off an inherritance. This has now run out.

He moved out many years ago and rents a property. We are waiting for our FDR hearing.

He is telling me he is not being allowed to claim job seekers allowance or housing benefit as he has a half share in our home (I know he won''t get half - it''s just what he likes to say to me)

I can believe the story on housing benefit but I just can''t believe the story on job seekers.

Does any one know anything different? All the research I have done suggests that as he has savings under £16k he would be entitled to it, although he would be entitled to contributionbased anyway as he had manay years of pying NI contributions.

Am I being spun yet anoher line?

I do know that if you have savings of more than £14000 you can''t claim. It should be easy to check online. When I was unemployed I was stopped on the basis my wife earnt too much... Then was told that wasn''t true and in the end was told i couldnt... So there are some confusions amongst those who administor benefits.
Are you certain all his inheritance has gone or is it just a line to avoid paying you?

I am not sure that he would be entitled to contribution based Job Seekers. I think I am right in saying that they check contributions made in the last 2 financial years prior to the claim.

If he has been living off inheritance money in the last 2 years, and hasn''t made any NI contributions, I think he is probably telling you the truth.

However, he could apply for non contribution based, but that is a completely different ball game. They will delve into his finances with a fine tooth comb.

Hope this helps.

Hi confused....I know that contributions based is based on what you earned in the last tax year. I returned to UK after living in Spain for over 10 years and eventually got Income based JSA when they decided I was habitually resident after 2 months. Although I am joint owner of two propertiesn with a lot of equity, they were discounting one until September as it is up for sale and I am awaiting FH outcome...left in the proverbial by stbx.
I was entitled to Housing benefit but because my landlady didn''t want DSS and I couldn''t afford deposit on another place I had to carry on and not claim.
I''m sure he will be entitled to the income based JSA.

thanks for your help - i will continue to advise him to apply for income based.

Not sure what to do re housing though.