End of uni, when to apply for UC/JSA?

[ifonly4]

DD leaving uni soon, then goes straight off to a six week internship abroad. If she can't find a job for her return, when would be a good time to apply for UC/JSA? We've never applied for benefits so not sure how it works, so not sure if she can apply before return as I think she'd need to sign on.

Anyone know the answer?

I can remember someone locally telling me her DS should have applied before he left uni (in DD's case it'll be when she's away on her internship), but we don't know the timescale for these things.

Why is she assuming she won’t get a job? Ehe needs to look more positively and start to apply for jobs nearing the end of her internship. I’m assuming it will open doors for her. If she can’t get a job in her area of choice she may need to temp/find something local. Good luck to her x

Why isn't she looking for graduate roles now ? Or lining something up assuming that even with exams and internship she will be available from end of June ?

Why can't she find a job (any job) whilst she applies for graduate roles on her return?

I think she will find a job , whether ultimately it’s in the field she wants is a different matter but there are plenty of temp jobs for all sorts so she won’t even need to consider benefits !

Another why isn't she looking for work?
DD decided to take a gap year between undergrad and postgrad. She walked into a job pretty much straight away. It would never have occurred to her to claim benefits TBH.

Yes. She can apply the week she's back.

Agree with others, is there a reason she isn't applying for jobs? My DS us graduating this year and already has a summer job lined up whilst he applies for 'graduate' jobs ... it's quite easy to get casual work at the moment.

The thing is you can't back date it. So if she does end up spending months looking for a job she won't be able to claim the months. Hopefully she'll end up cancelling the claim within the week as there are lots of jobs out there as long as you aren't too particular

She needs to focus on getting a job! She will be able to claim, but it’s easier just to get a job.

It won't be an issue because she will find a job straight away. Maybe not in her chosen field but she will find a job, admin, bar work, waitresses, cleaning, whatever. It will tide her over while she's looking for a graduate role. That's how it works.

You have to be available to attend appointments - firstly to prove identity, then to meet your work coach etc. So I would think that she will only be able to reply on return from her internship with it being away. My ds applied and had about three appts in the first two weeks. There’s no guarantee of a job right away, so it is sensible to think about the what ifs.

Apply on the first day after the internship ends, she will need to be "available and looking for work" (I.e. she can't apply during the internship due not being available for work). For example, if the internship ends on 1st May, submit the application on 2nd May.

The DWP will check that her course has 'officially ended' (I.e. the end date of the course from the University, some students are 'free' through end of exams even though the course end date is later). They will also check that her maintenance loan wasn't supposed to cover her up to a later date. However, you don't have to worry about this upfront, just make the claim when it is time and they will ask her for any additional evidence or information they need.

Source: I used to work for the jobcentre

Strange she is thinking of claiming benefits, most graduates start applying whilst on internships.
If not they temp whilst applying, or if they go the other route they will b forced to apply and accept minimum wage jobs.

She needs to be applying for jobs before she swans off on an internship! A quick look at my local jobcentre site shows there are myriad jobs that she could be applying for.
For starters, the hospitality industry is desperate for staff, and now’s the time to look.

Or just get a job?

The benefits system should be a last resort, OP, unless you're in real hardship? It wouldn't have occurred to me on finishing university to claim benefits. I started trying to arrange something towards the end and afterwards, to have something in place.

Yes, people should try to get a job but it isn't always that easy to find one through no fault of the person's own: JSA/UC check that the person is looking for work. It is something the person is entitled to and shouldn't feel ashamed about claiming. That is what benefits are for.

UC/JSA is something like £70 per week, I'm sure the graduate would much prefer working and earning a decent salary rather than claiming benefits, hence the internship.

Benefits can be a good safety net, for example to help pay for food and board in the case of unemployment rather than expecting parents to pick up the bill: we know from other posts that parents cannot always afford this. Would people rather unemployed people starving on the streets? Everyone needs shelter and food.

Don't shame people who claim benefits.

People who say "benefits should be a last resort", are you really saying people should turn down free nursery hours, child benefit, child tax credits? How about your tax free income allowance or pension relief? Winter fuel payments or free bus pass for OAPs? Did you donate the money you got from the Energy Bill Suppor Scheme? Probably not, you just mean out of work benefits.

There is a snobbery and shame put on people who claim out of work benefits, and these folk need it the most because they literally have no other income. But it is something they are legly entitled to. However in work benefits or tax breaks are OK? It is all government/tax payer money, but you're only 'allowed' to claim it if your working and have another source of income???

We know from other posts that people without jobs aren't allowed any nice things or luxuries, bring back the work houses. Of course, all the middle class are crying now they can't afford their 'treats' due to COL crisis and want the government to 'do something' so they can keep getting their nails done.

OP let your child claim their JSA and spend it on their hair and nails - if that is what your child wants. Or use it to help with food, fuel and housing bills, giving a small bit of relief in these tough financial times. Just like these nay-sayers did with their Energy Support Scheme payments.

Rant over.

Opposite of a growth mindset.

It's not snobbery on my part @Orangeradiorabbit It should be a last resort as it's there for people who need it most. It wouldn't have occurred to me on finishing university and most of us were trying to put something in place, for when we had finished, during our last few months. It might be that there is hardship involved and it is needed, the OP hasn't yet clarified.

Though I always thought student loans covered the summer holiday period, unless that doesn't apply to the final year?

Universal credit is a means tested benefit that is available to everyone who is eligible. The eligibilty criteria define "who needs it most". Assuming someone has no source of income and no savings, and are looking + available for work, then they will likely be eligible (subject to some age + habitual residence + recourse to public funds rules). Parents aren't expected to pay for adult children.

So we and the OP don't need to worry about whether DC "needs it most" the jobcentre is designed to do that. Same goes for whether the maintenance loan is designed to pay over the summer: make a claim and the jobcentre decides, the same with all means tested benefits. If OP's DC claims Universal Credit it doesn't prevent someone else getting it. Same as claiming child benefit, pension credit, child tax credits etc etc etc

Right now it is difficult for students to land that first graduate job. OP's child has done excellent to get an internship, which will set DC up for high quality employment, much more than a bar job. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a great job set up for when they leave uni. Look at all the posts from parents who say 5 years after graduation their child still hasn't got a graduate job. Give this child a chance to use their degree and get a good job so they won't need in-work benefits down the line. Universal Credit/ jobcentre staff will make sure DC is entitled to the benefit and doing enough to look for work - they will decide whether the child has to look for bar work or can focus on graduate jobs (they normally put a time line in place).

The OP asked when and how to claim, and instead they are getting a pile on from the '(im)morals of claiming benefits' brigade.

I don't think it is a 'pile on'. She's a university graduate, looking for a graduate role and should be doing this while working (in any available role) - also assume she is living at home and subsidised by family.

Taking on a non-graduate role, especially for a longer period of time, can negatively impact a person's ability to land a graduate role. They get seen as a "admin assistant", "bar staff" and build competencies in those areas, rather than being seen as a top graduate with competencies in a relevant area. This is why internships look much better on a CV, than for example, call centre work. Plus, doing this non-graduate work takes away time and energy to look and prepare for other jobs/interviews. So it's easy to get stuck working in a non-graduate role.

Plus, there is the assumption that it is easy to get non-gradaute roles: DC still might spend significant time trying to land a non-graduate role. If DC has the tenacity to land an internship I'm sure they are trying to find work after the internship, but there is still a chance of unemployment, which universal credit can help with.

Pretty sure she can’t apply if she is abroad, so she will have to apply when she gets back.