Page 9 | To think paying tax on jobseekers allowance is just crap

20thcenturygirlwithherhandsonthewheel · 2025-08-04T21:20:32+00:00

I was made redundant a few months ago. I have worked just under 30 years and never claimed any benefits before. DH and I have always saved to make sure that we have money aside just in case of emergencies (especially as housing benefits don’t pay the mortgage), so we have over £16k in savings and can’t claim anything means tested. fair enough. the only benefit I could claim when unemployed was contribution based jobseekers allowance: a massive £93 a week that I could only claim for 6 months. thankfully I was only unemployed for 8 weeks. But to my surprise I’ve just recieved a letter from HMRC telling me that the paltry £93 a week was taxable. So really; probably will end up about £70 a week. really pissed off: being putting money in the kitty for 30 years but getting so little when we needed it

MikeRafone · 05/08/2025 07:40

www.economicshelp.org/blog/214768/economics/norway-uk-oil/

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 05/08/2025 07:40

AlastheDaffodils · 05/08/2025 07:32

I suspect OP would line to see a system in which contribution-based JSA is enough to live on, is higher for people who have paid NI for decades than for people who haven’t, is not means tested, and is linked to your previous salary so people who have paid more in get a little more out. That’s not an absurd ask, it’s essentially the system in other European countries. But it’s very different to the way the UK system works now.

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The U.K. used to be like this when it was called unemployment benefit.

MikeRafone · 05/08/2025 07:39

£93 is far to low for a week to live upon, it needs to be raised - like most of the benefits. But unlike Norway Uk was prudent back in the 1980s under thatcher and North Sea oil lined a few happy people’s pockets instead

so whereas Norway put that money away and have over a trillion to rely upon, Uk has fuck all and massive debt

AlastheDaffodils · 05/08/2025 07:32

cakeorwine · 04/08/2025 23:04

So what would you like to see?

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I suspect OP would line to see a system in which contribution-based JSA is enough to live on, is higher for people who have paid NI for decades than for people who haven’t, is not means tested, and is linked to your previous salary so people who have paid more in get a little more out. That’s not an absurd ask, it’s essentially the system in other European countries. But it’s very different to the way the UK system works now.

Nat6999 · 05/08/2025 00:10

Wait until you become a pensioner & your state pension eats up most of your personal allowance.

idontknowwhattochangemynameto · 05/08/2025 00:09

20thcenturygirlwithherhandsonthewheel · 04/08/2025 22:33

can you genuinely not understand why I’m annoyed to pay for others to recieve benefits, yet what I recieve when I need them is very limited.

If my savings ran out; then I would lose my home. Whereas if I was renting I would get housing benefit.

But when renting you don’t have the security of it being your own home. I have privately rented my current house for 13 years and been given my section 21 to leave so they can sell the house I had the same in the house before, lived there 3 years and the same again, rent now in my area is 150% more now than what I pay.
I know people who have had to move every year or two due to private renting not being secure.

HoskinsChoice · 04/08/2025 23:57

20thcenturygirlwithherhandsonthewheel · 04/08/2025 22:33

can you genuinely not understand why I’m annoyed to pay for others to recieve benefits, yet what I recieve when I need them is very limited.

If my savings ran out; then I would lose my home. Whereas if I was renting I would get housing benefit.

But you didn't need them. If your savings had run out then you'd need help but they didn't and so you don't.

BooneyBeautiful · 04/08/2025 23:40

MickGeorge22 · 04/08/2025 23:29

But as I understand it op would only be able to take that SMI loan if she was eligible for Universal credit which her partners earnings could rule her out of? So really there's no safety net unless her mortgage lender would give her a repayment holiday.

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But OP said she would lose her home and have to go into rented accommodation. That isn't the case. If she and her partner ended up on means-tested benefits, they wouldn't lose their home because there is a safety net there for these situations.

PractisingMyTelekenipsis · 04/08/2025 23:38

20thcenturygirlwithherhandsonthewheel · 04/08/2025 22:26

Why shouldn’t I claim as I have paid tax and ni for 30 years? those savings would quickly run out if I didn’t find a job reasonably soon; as I need to pay mortgage.

Meanwhile; if I spent every penny I earned and just and rented, I would be recieving full universal credit, housing benefit, child tax payment, council tax refund etc etc

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You wouldn't get UC and HC, CTC etc. UC replaces everything else. And as for a CT refund... hahaha. I wish.

As for faking anxiety for the millions we get in benefits! I barely left my house for 2 years, got the grand sum of £0 extra as a result. Like a PP id much much rather be well enough to work like I used to.

BooneyBeautiful · 04/08/2025 23:34

20thcenturygirlwithherhandsonthewheel · 04/08/2025 23:17

Ironically I do have a disability: never tried to claim PIP or anything as I have been able to work with adjustments from employers.

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PIP is not an in-work benefit. Plenty of people in full-time work claim it. It's to cover the extra costs associated with having a long-term illness or disability.

MickGeorge22 · 04/08/2025 23:32

BooneyBeautiful · 04/08/2025 23:30

You wouldn't lose your home if you were on means-tested benefits. You would be able to take out a loan, via the DWP, to cover the interest at the average rate, and then you would be expected to pay that loan back when you were back in work, or if that didn't happen, a charge would be put on the home. The loan would then be paid back, with interest, once the property was sold.

Sorry I see now you said if on means tested benefits. Apologies.

BooneyBeautiful · 04/08/2025 23:30

You wouldn't lose your home if you were on means-tested benefits. You would be able to take out a loan, via the DWP, to cover the interest at the average rate, and then you would be expected to pay that loan back when you were back in work, or if that didn't happen, a charge would be put on the home. The loan would then be paid back, with interest, once the property was sold.

MickGeorge22 · 04/08/2025 23:29

BooneyBeautiful · 04/08/2025 23:27

You wouldn't lose your home if you were on means-tested benefits. You would be able to take out a loan, via the DWP, to cover the interest at the average rate, and then you would be expected to pay that loan back when you were back in work, or if that didn't happen, a charge would be put on the home. The loan would then be paid back, with interest, once the property was sold.

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But as I understand it op would only be able to take that SMI loan if she was eligible for Universal credit which her partners earnings could rule her out of? So really there's no safety net unless her mortgage lender would give her a repayment holiday.

BooneyBeautiful · 04/08/2025 23:27

20thcenturygirlwithherhandsonthewheel · 04/08/2025 22:33

can you genuinely not understand why I’m annoyed to pay for others to recieve benefits, yet what I recieve when I need them is very limited.

If my savings ran out; then I would lose my home. Whereas if I was renting I would get housing benefit.

You wouldn't lose your home if you were on means-tested benefits. You would be able to take out a loan, via the DWP, to cover the interest at the average rate, and then you would be expected to pay that loan back when you were back in work, or if that didn't happen, a charge would be put on the home. The loan would then be paid back, with interest, once the property was sold.

XenoBitch · 04/08/2025 23:27

It seems many people think that benefits are great and you get a lot.

Then when it comes to actually claiming, they find out how shit it is. Then moan on here about it.

I hope you get a new job soon, OP.

XenoBitch · 04/08/2025 23:26

MyQuirkyTraybake · 04/08/2025 23:23

But that's because OP budgeted. If she'd gone on holidays, smoked and drunk it all away, she'd get the money she threw away then the free money!

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And if she had spent it on some vital private healthcare, she would still not be eligible.
Benefits are not for people who saved. It does not matter why.

Silverysnake · 04/08/2025 23:24

At least claiming Job Seekers keeps your National Insurance credits correct.

MyQuirkyTraybake · 04/08/2025 23:23

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 04/08/2025 22:21

But you have £16k in savings so you didn't need any benefits surely?

But that's because OP budgeted. If she'd gone on holidays, smoked and drunk it all away, she'd get the money she threw away then the free money!

MickGeorge22 · 04/08/2025 23:23

BIossomtoes · 04/08/2025 23:20

I keep reading your posts on various threads and have come to the conclusion that you’re in the wrong job. Surely you’re not supposed to gossip about your clients on social media?

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On an anonymous forum. What a ridiculous thing to say. And yes I am in the wrong job and trying to get out of it .

XenoBitch · 04/08/2025 23:21

Loadsapandas · 04/08/2025 23:19

People can get generous benefits if they pretend to have anxiety?

What benefits?

what’s the criteria for being awarded?

And if the rules are so soft, anyone can claim benefits for anxiety?

Not having a job will be stressful, so depending on what you state the criteria to be, maybe more people can claim it.

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I have actual anxiety and I am not rolling in it. Far from it. I must be doing benefits wrong. I would rather not have MH issues than the money. In a heartbeat.

BIossomtoes · 04/08/2025 23:20

MickGeorge22 · 04/08/2025 23:18

I did a benefit check for a couple the other day. Couple in their 60's , owned their own home outright, one still working part time , one getting UC LCWRA and PIP. It came out with £1600 per month in benefits ( UC and standard PIP ) then part time earnings on top. I was quite shocked considering no rent being paid. They still weren't happy and were looking for more.

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I keep reading your posts on various threads and have come to the conclusion that you’re in the wrong job. Surely you’re not supposed to gossip about your clients on social media?

Icanttakethisanymore · 04/08/2025 23:20

20thcenturygirlwithherhandsonthewheel · 04/08/2025 23:02

i really am. If I had spent every penny I earned; I’d be getting much more in benefits!

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That’s always going to be the case. If you have very little you get more hand outs from the state (but will likely still be worse off than you are now).

XenoBitch · 04/08/2025 23:19

MustTryHarderAndHarder · 04/08/2025 23:08

But they are generous if yo have a disability which is why people pretend that they have anxiety etc.

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Ah, here we go....

Loadsapandas · 04/08/2025 23:19

MustTryHarderAndHarder · 04/08/2025 23:08

But they are generous if yo have a disability which is why people pretend that they have anxiety etc.

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People can get generous benefits if they pretend to have anxiety?

What benefits?

what’s the criteria for being awarded?

And if the rules are so soft, anyone can claim benefits for anxiety?

Not having a job will be stressful, so depending on what you state the criteria to be, maybe more people can claim it.

Original poster

20thcenturygirlwithherhandsonthewheel · 04/08/2025 23:18

MickGeorge22 · 04/08/2025 23:06

Would you though ? It would depend on your partners earnings, how many kids you have etc. If you have a mortgage and an earning partner the threshold for UC could be pretty low for you getting anything. I do agree with you that it's crap though. I will be in this situation next year and will be reliant on my dh wheras I never have been previously.

Edited

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actually, you are probably correct. DHs earnings would probably mean no UC.

OP posts: