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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Those in receipt of certain benefits not allowed go abroad

84 replies

manicinsomniac · 15/09/2013 13:59

I'm the first to admit I don't know much about the system and am very poor with news etc so apologies if this is common knowledge but - is this for real?!

One of my friends has replied to a group email to say that she can't come a weekend trip abroad because she is on job seekers allowance and her benefits will be stopped if she leaves the country!?

My friend is a highly qualified, intelligent and hard working individual who just doesn't happen to be able to find a job right now. She's not a criminal, why prevent her from leaving the country. It's degrading and humiliating?!

I don't want to question her about it in case she's making it up rather than say she can't afford it right now. I'd be sad if she felt embarrassed to say that but really hope she isn't actually being prevented by the government from leaving the country for a short break.

If it is true it certainly puts paid to all those 'anecdotes' about 5 foreign holidays a year abroad while on benefits!

AIBU to think that this policy, if true, is completely unacceptable and enfringing on personal freedom to a bizarre and uneccesary degree?

OP posts:
McNewPants2013 · 15/09/2013 14:02

You have to inform the job centre if its more than 4 weeks.

QOD · 15/09/2013 14:03

I think the clue is in the benefit title .. Job seekers allowance. She isn't available for work if she is abroad.
Very different to tax credits and all that jazz

CoTananat · 15/09/2013 14:03

You have to be available for work on JSA. So you can't go on holiday outside GB. AFAIK you are allowed up to 2 weeks per year away from your house but it's got to be still in Britain.

She's not making it up.

SPsTotallyMullerFuckingLicious · 15/09/2013 14:04

Its true. They will stop the benefit and she will have to start it all again

Cupcake1985 · 15/09/2013 14:04

I really doubt this can be true. Maybe she just can't afford it but is embarrassed.

queenofdrama · 15/09/2013 14:04

I think you need sign on for JSA weekly. So if your friend misses a JSA appointment, her benefits will be stopped.

burberryqueen · 15/09/2013 14:04

unless she was missing a signing day a weekend away would not be a problem.

Foxeym · 15/09/2013 14:05

You are allowed abroad as long as you notify them. My parents live abroad and they paid for my family to visit for a week when my DH was claiming job seekers

CoTananat · 15/09/2013 14:06

Advice from CAB confirming this, Cupcake.

Foxeym · 15/09/2013 14:06

Sorry that sounds wrong, I meant my parents paid and not the benefits office!

burberryqueen · 15/09/2013 14:08

you can look for work abroad that is for sure, have a google of it.

expatinscotland · 15/09/2013 14:09

If you miss sign on it gets cut off. My BIL was able to sign on in another city, however, after his father became very ill and needed an operation on his sign in day.

Original poster
manicinsomniac · 15/09/2013 14:10

QOD - it's only a Friday to Monday in October half term, she's hardly 'unavailable for work!'

Sounds like maybe she either misunderstood that it was a time limit thing or that she had to notify and actually just can't afford it. If it's affordability the rest of us can cover it but that might make her even more upset. Hmmm, dilemma. I probably should just respect her email and not question it shouldn't I!

OP posts:
HalooJones · 15/09/2013 14:11

Is she missing her signing on date? It's not like they cross check people's passports when they leave the country to see if they're on JSA. She should be fine for a weekend away unless her signing on time is late on Friday or early on Monday or something. Maybe she just can't afford it and this is an excuse?

MaggieMaggieMaggieMcGill · 15/09/2013 14:12

When I was on JSA, I had to go abroad a couple of times. But what I did was sign off for the period I was away and then put in for a rapid reclaim when I got back. Meaning I did not receive JSA for that time period.
If your friend is solely relying on JSA for her income, then she probably cannot afford to do that.

eurochick · 15/09/2013 14:14

Perhaps she is due to sign on that Friday or Monday?

Jolleigh · 15/09/2013 14:15

I wouldn't question it. She must be a bit hard up right now and doesn't want a pity party or to become a charity case. It's true that she shouldn't be in receipt of it if she's not available for work, but I doubt anyone would begrudge her a weekend away. I'm not certain but imagine that the benefit would only stop if she missed her sign on date.

ilovesooty · 15/09/2013 14:15

You have to be actively seeking work and available for an immediate start. If she wanted to go away Fri-Mon abroad she would have to sign off and sign on again via rapid reclaim. She probably can't afford this.

teenagetantrums · 15/09/2013 14:16

Im on JSA and you cant get it if you go abroad, you have to fill in a form in you go on holiday in the UK, not sure if you get JSA then, I have been on holiday in UK for a week with family, I just made sure was home on the days I had to sign on and didn't tell them. On my JSA agreement it says have to tell them if I am away from home overnight, I never do that either, I see no reason for them to know if I go to my parents for a night, I am still looking for work and could back easily if I had an interview.

Original poster
manicinsomniac · 15/09/2013 14:16

could be Monday yes. We're not going till Friday night.

OP posts:
usualsuspect · 15/09/2013 14:16

Is she due to sign on,on the days she is away?

If she's not,then I can't see why she can't go.

YoureBeingADick · 15/09/2013 14:16

because she'll miss her sign on and not get her Jobseekers allowance and have to start a new claim which takes weeks so she will be without money for ages.

why don't you ask her yourself instead of getting all agitated on her behalf without knowing the facts?

expatinscotland · 15/09/2013 14:17

'but I doubt anyone would begrudge her a weekend away.'

Haahaahaa! Hang around here a while.

Viviennemary · 15/09/2013 14:17

Exactly what MaggieMMM says. Nobody is prevented from travelling abroad. You will just not receive your benefits while you are abroad. You sign off and then sign on again when you get back. However, I think a weekend away won't matter as they are hardly likely to find out.

Original poster
manicinsomniac · 15/09/2013 14:18

teenagetantrums it sounds very controlling and I sorry you have to jump through all those hoops just for a few days break.

OP posts: