How do you apply for jobseekers allowance?

[Wii]

What do you have to do? Where do you go? How do you collect the money, does it go into an account? How do you prove you are looking for a job? Do they set you up for interviews? What information do they need? Please tell me in very simple language.

TIA

info here

My dd claimed it. First step was visit to the Job Centre. She had to keep a diary, detailing everything she had done to try to get a job, ie which papers she had bought (for job adverts), which agencies she had registered with, which jobs she had applied for. The money (when she eventually got it) was paid into her bank account.
And, they were absolutely useless when it came to practical help such as setting her up for interviews.

Thanks for help, I didn't understand how the system worked at all. So they interview you and do they try to pull you apart or are they helpful?

My daughter's experience was that they weren't at all helpful, but that might just have been that particular Job Centre or the particular member of staff she dealt with, who according to dd was a 'right cow'

If you claim for a long time then you are more likely to get hassle about your job seeking efforts

Oh dear I will prob end up in tears then, cos I am hopeless in awkward situations. What information do I need to take with me? Does it take ages to get the money then?

Does it make any difference how much my DH earns?

you can claim one of two ways - one is income related so if you are loaded that rules you out, one is contribution related so if you have been working and paying NI you should claim that one

I can't do the income one cos we have got savings and I haven't done many NI contributions

oh you usually need your P45 if I remember correctly

I have never had one of those,

perhaps I will be brave and phone them up, thank you for your help.

couple of maybe useful links
this
this