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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To go on jsa for a bit

76 replies

Sereneocean · 13/07/2015 07:37

Am going to have a period where I can't work as I am a supply teacher and obviously the 6 week holiday is coming up and so I was wondering is it unreasonable to claim jsa during this time otherwise have no money?

OP posts:
HappenstanceMarmite · 13/07/2015 08:17

Heard it all now Hmm

RachelRagged · 13/07/2015 08:18

It takes roughly a week or so . My friend had to sign on not long ago. Applied on the telephone, next day had to go local JC to read and sign the statement (details given over phone), short talk with advisor then signed on the following week . Money went in for 5 days later (two days included a weekend).

KatieScarlettreregged · 13/07/2015 08:19

The onus on finding a job is exactly the same for cont and IB JSA. The relevant income tax years if you claim now are 13/14 and 12/13 for cont only.

Teabagbeforemilk · 13/07/2015 08:26

You may think it's unfair. But it's attitudes like this that the Tories latch onto to justify cuts.

JSA is job seekers support. If you are not seeking a job, it's not for you. The clue is in the name.

Your earnings are meant to take into account the fact that you are not paid for holidays sick etc

Jengnr · 13/07/2015 08:30

Loads of supply teachers claim JSA in the holidays. If you're not working, are prepared to look for and accept other work over the 6 weeks there is no reason whatsoever not to claim.

If you're in a Universal Credit area you'll find it much easier if you get bits of work here and there too - no signing on and off.

Go for it!

NormaStits · 13/07/2015 08:31

If you're not giving up the second job until September, you won't be unemployed in the 6 weeks so won't be eligible anyway.

Lokisglowstickofdestiny · 13/07/2015 08:31

It's not unfair. You have a job you are going to start in September, so what job are you actively going to be looking for in your few weeks off? If you are exhausted surely you want the break, you are looking for someone else to fund your break for you. That is not what JSA is for regardless of whether you have never claimed benefits before.

MidniteScribbler · 13/07/2015 08:31

most teachers are and school staff but supply is on a daily basis this no pay parity.

You get a higher daily rate that is in lieu of holiday pay and sick pay. You are supposed to prepare for holiday periods, it's not exactly rocket science that there is a long break in summer when you go in to teaching. You don't get to reap the benefit of a higher daily rate then claim benefits for the time that you know you will be out of work.

Original poster
Sereneocean · 13/07/2015 08:35

I conceded I was BU on the first post I think .

Norma, I was thinking I might be able to stop my second job for a couple of weeks before September to actually just have a holiday if only for a couple of weeks!

Midnite it hasn't worked quite like that I'm afraid but you are correct I should have made savings for the holidays and did so but unfortunately an emergency situation arose.

OP posts:
slithytove · 13/07/2015 08:48

I once finished a job in June and had a new one to start in September. I still claimed for the interim period and I was able to make the claim early as I knew my job was over. I got Jsa and also housing help, council tax help. In addition they paid it until I got my first paycheck.

I would do it if you would genuinely take jobs which come up.

Bubblesinthesummer · 13/07/2015 08:50

I know that you have admitted YABU, but to hear from other posters that 'lots of supply teachers do it' IMO is just wrong!

As a supply teacher you get a higher rate of pay to cover holidays!

No wonder there are people supporting the cuts, rightly or wrongly.

It's people doing this that tarnish all 'genuine' claimants with the same brush Angry

slithytove · 13/07/2015 08:52

I agree with Laurie's response.

If you are entitled, you should claim. And if you aren't, the claim will fail.
Is your second job under 16 hours?

Original poster
Sereneocean · 13/07/2015 08:54

Bubbles - I don't. I've been paid well under my 'value' so to speak for ten months now.

OP posts:
Jengnr · 13/07/2015 08:57

It's not wrong. If you meet the conditions you are entitled to benefit.

There's no reason whatsoever a supply teacher can't take temp work over the summer and provided they are willing to do that they should claim whilst not in work.

AnyoneForTennis · 13/07/2015 09:00

You can't just 'give up' a job to claim JSA. They contact your ex employer to find out why you left the job you know!?

WorktoLive · 13/07/2015 09:04

Do supply teachers actually get paid more these days?

It's my understanding that they are being exploited by employment agencies and umbrella companies who take a big chunk of their wages as well as forcing them into tax avoidance with various harebrained schemes.

Is the daily rate that the supply teacher earns sufficiently more than a permanent teacher with the same qualifications to take into account loss of holiday pay, sick pay, Pension? etc?

TaliZorahVasNormandy · 13/07/2015 09:09

If you have a job and quit, it'll take longer than 6 weeks to get JSA. If you earn WTC, you wont get any JSA for 4 weeks because you get a 4 week roll on for WTC.

Teabagbeforemilk · 13/07/2015 09:12

All this talk about claiming if you are entitled is ridiculous. The OP wants a break from working. She isn't interested in actually doing anymore work.

KatieScarlettreregged · 13/07/2015 09:13

No, you will get JSA until the DM looks at the leaving voluntarily case and makes a decision. It used to be the other way around but hasn't been for ages.

TaliZorahVasNormandy · 13/07/2015 09:13

I know Teabag. Just pointing out that she could try, but she wouldnt get anywhere.

gamerchick · 13/07/2015 09:18

You can't if you're earning and it takes months if you quit a job.

It's not there because you want a rest.

Ideally if you had saved for it you could have stopped your second job a couple of weeks before you started the new one. It's probably not possible now.

Athenaviolet · 13/07/2015 09:33

I knew medical graduates who signed on for the 2 week gap between finishing their course and starting their job!

If you meet the eligibility criteria, apply. There are no prizes for under claiming benefits.

RepeatAdNauseum · 13/07/2015 09:39

Graduates are an exception - they have proof of their graduation date, and their new job start date, and can legitimately claim to be looking for work to bridge the two.

If OP gives up her second job, she could be penalised for up to 26 weeks. Which would make the claim pointless anyway! I wouldn't count on them not doing it, either - some people might get away with it, but the vast majority won't, there seems to be a drive towards reducing the number of people on benefits and weeding out people in this way is the easiest way to do it.

softhedgehog · 13/07/2015 09:45

In theory I would do another job in practice I'm just so exhausted

and none of us who go to work every day are exhausted?
if you want a holiday you need to fund it yourself, surely this isn't what JSA is for

Stylingwax · 13/07/2015 09:55

Well, if you've a second job you're not entitled.
And to reiterate other posters points. Most of us have to work all the time with minimal holidays, we don't get 6 weeks off because we're tired. And in my line of work 60 hours a week is not unreasonable.

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