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From 27/10/2014, an extended waiting period at the start of a claim for ESA or JSA is being introduced. The new law will mean that no ESA or JSA would be paid for the first 7 'waiting days' instead of the present 3 days. Both types of ESA and also JSA are affected but not Housing Benefit. There is a fear than this extra cut will put further pressure on claimants.

An impact assessment suggests-

A loss on average of approximately £40 to a new JSA claimant and

approximately £50 to a new ESA claimant.

  • ●  £55 million will be saved in 2014/15.

  • ●  It is estimated that 60% of new claims to ESA and 30% of new claims to JSA

    would be exempt from serving an additional waiting day period, mainly because they had made a previous claim for benefit within the previous 12 weeks 

A similar measure, predicted to save £200 million by 2016/17, may be introduced for Universal Credit. The Social Security Advisory Committee is seeking your views. commenting 'larger sums of money could be lost as Universal Credit includes an element for housing costs and children whereas ESA and JSA do not. This is further compounded by the fact that Universal Credit is paid monthly so claimants are generally waiting longer for their first benefit payment.'

Email your comments by 17/10/2014.

To get to know the law better for clients in financial hardship Click here for our updated Benefit Change Course 2014- 'Falling Through the Net'. This course

includes sanctions which often go unchallenged.

Universal Credit 2014 course

Cardiff 6/10/2014, Exeter 7/10/2014, London 8/10/2014, Manchester on 13/10/2014, Birmingham 14/10/2014 

 

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