benefits and temp work

[giraffescantdancethetango]

I am becoming unemployed on the 15th. Have joined 4 agencies and been to 2 interviews, was down to the last 2 in one but didnt get it. And have a call back for the other interview next week but I am doubtful.

So as of 15th should I go on JSA? SOmetimes I get offered temp work through the agecnies - just one day. Does this mean I cant be on JSA at all, or does it mean I just have to tell them? I can go for weeks with no temp work then suddenly a few things come in one week, so I cant live soley off temping...confused!

(Im not for a second thinking about claiming JSA and temping without telling them before anyone thinks that)

[AvenaLife]

If you have a child then you should be going on income support (unless they have changed the rules). As far as I am aware you can work for less than 16 hours and it doesn't affect your benefit. I may be wrong though so I would check with the benefits office.

[giraffescantdancethetango]

Hiya AL its definetly JSA I would be on - no children. Going to give them a phone in a wee bit.

[giraffescantdancethetango]

Ok have phoned and checked lady said 15 hours (but website says 16). Am going to go in on Friday which is the day after I leave. Its really awful but the best financial thing for me just now is to go on JSA and do some temp work. There are a few after school care jobs around but then I would be over the 16 hour mark...but they arent enough money to live on (Have worked out it would be just enough to pay my rent and then have about £8 a week left to pay council tax, phone bill, gas bill, leckie bill, internet and tv lisence...it just will not stretch.

I dont want to have to go on JSA but until a job comes up I have no option I am learning to drive just now and once I do that I know I will be able to go for so many more jobs in my feild.

Am I a really bad person for going on JSA? I feel so guilty. Keep thinking maybe I should take the afterschool care jobs...but I literally will not have enough money, and couldnt get another job for mornings because the afterschool care jobs would require full days when its not term time so I couldnt comit to both.

[RockinSockBunnies]

Hi there. I'm not sure whether the rules for JSA differ much from those for Income Support, but if you are working less than 16 hours per week, your earnings will be taken into account and your JSA benefit docked accordingly. I'm in a similar situation in that I'm working less than 16 hours per week but earning above the benefit amount, hence I can't sign on to Income Support....

[HappyNewMum2Be]

No, you are not a bad person for going on JSA. It is there to help support those people who are unemployed to get back into work.

There are two types of JSA - contributions based, and income. CB is an entitlement for those people who become unemployed after working for a minimum of 2 years - ie having made continuous NI contributions. You are entitled to this regardless of whether you have a partner who earns etc. It is normally paid at approx £60 per week. The income based scheme is for those who haven't worked the qualifying period for contributions and also have a low income. If you qualify for income based JSA, you may also qualify for income support, housing benefit (only for renters), council tax benefit and other stuff.

You need to get some proper advice on what you are entitled to in your particular situation.

I was advised that if I took work that during a week was up to 15 hours and 59 minutes (therein lies the confusion about 15 or 16 hours work!) my claim for CB JSA would not stop, however, the money I earned would be offset against the benefit payment, apart from £5 which would be a nominal benefit payment. If you go over the 15 hours and 59 minutes, then stopped working, you would have to reclaim, which can take up to three or four weeks to be processed.

HTH