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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:
scarlets · 13/07/2015 10:04

You may end up being forced to attend interviews. And rightly so. If you're happy to look for work and take what's on offer, sign on.

AuntyMag10 · 13/07/2015 10:05

This is exactly the type of mentality that needs to be stamped out.

WicksEnd · 13/07/2015 10:06

We always had plenty of supply teachers making claims for JSA in the holidays. Always a bloody nightmare as they think it's their right.
When asked what type of work they're looking for and reply 'teaching' and won't accept that the reason they're in the job centre is because it's the summer and there aren't any teaching jobs...... And on and on it goes.
But they can't/won't consider other types of temporary work because they're a qualified teacher.
You can make a claim. Anyone can, it's only an application for benefit so depends on individual circs. You have to be actively seeking other work which is actually available over the summer, and prove daily job search. In our office you'd sign on every week too, not fortnightly.

RachelRagged · 13/07/2015 10:15

WicksEnd could I ask a question please ?

When I signed on I went fortnightly to do so. Toward the end of that (found a part time job) it was weekly. Why do some have to do weekly ? Just curious really .

RachelRagged · 13/07/2015 10:15

Nothing was any different for me though except for I would get money after the sign on day not before. Just made me wonder

Corygal · 13/07/2015 10:19

Go for it. I bet half the posters on this thread are supported by someone else anyway or are too well off to get any help.

BeyondTheWall · 13/07/2015 10:22

Is your second job one that pays sick pay? Cause if you are genuinely exhausted (not tired, they are different) your gp might want to sign you off?

howabout · 13/07/2015 10:32

A couple of hours private tutoring per week would give you the same money for much less effort. Are there no overanxious parents desperate to hothouse their DC round your way?

If you are receiving WTC and have used up your personal allowance for the year even if you could claim you would lose 61% of it in tax and benefit claw back anyway, which makes claiming contribution based JSA of just over £70pw a lot of hassle for not very much imo unless you have other income so high you are beyond the income based benefit system.

HappenstanceMarmite · 13/07/2015 10:33

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

^this

Happyringo · 13/07/2015 10:36

I had to laugh OP when you said you were exhausted as you'd worked all summer!

And?

WicksEnd · 13/07/2015 11:05

Rachelragged different offices will do it in ways to suit them but we have a target number of weekly signers given by the powers above of 60%. What we don't have is the staff to see them. We see all customers weekly for the first 6 weeks to meet our target but the reality is that there's not enough time to actually do anything much with you when you attend as the government have decided we don't need any signing staff anymore. Shit for customers. Shit for staff really.

Sorry bit of a rant there but we have such a bad reputation as a govt department but the pressure we're under is immense. I feel for our work coaches, they've gone from 12/15 interviews a day to 35/40 some days.

scarlets · 13/07/2015 11:08

Sorry to hear that Wicksend. A relative of mine recently took early retirement from the job centre because of the tough working conditions, and a feeling that genuine job seekers were being failed.

Teabagbeforemilk · 13/07/2015 11:11

Go for it. I bet half the posters on this thread are supported by someone else anyway or are too well off to get any help.

I am in neither of these categories. Am i allowed an opinion?

BeyondTheWall · 13/07/2015 11:22

The government would probably like you to sign on - it looks good on their figures. Means they can say x amount of people who sign on get a job within six weeks...

RachelRagged · 13/07/2015 11:26

Thank You for your reply WicksEnd (apt user name ;) )

My cousin who signs on told me that they now sign on little computer screen things ? Will these eventually lead to job losses at JC ?? I hope the nice ones (and there are nice ones, my advisors were lovely) are kept on to be honest as some are extremely rude and obnoxious,

RachelRagged · 13/07/2015 11:27

Rant away , ,I don't think I could do your job and keep calm .

WicksEnd · 13/07/2015 11:58

Eventually I guess the idea will be that people submit their job search activity via universal job match then either get called in or benefit gets released into their account if they've met the conditions.

We have some amazing, hard working dedicated staff and managers. We also have lazy incompetent and obnoxious staff who make life difficult for both staff, managers and customers. Thankfully these are few and far between (in our office anyway!)

frasersmummy · 17/07/2017 18:08

If you dont ask you don't get...
You need to apply on line..wait for an interview date. Attend the interview.wait 2 weeks sign on..wait 3/4 days for payment.
So in reality you can wait a month for money. You are technically only unemployed when you have attended the interview.
You will need to login every day and fill in your online diary to say what you have done to look for a job that day.
Top tip..if you do 3 applications log rhem seperatly.. makes you look busier as you have gone in and out of the diary...sad but true

frasersmummy · 17/07/2017 18:10

Oops wrong thread..idiot .. sorry

Notevilstepmother · 17/07/2017 20:52

Supply teachers should get more. But the extra money goes to agencies these days and supply teachers get less.

Mummy222 · 22/09/2017 06:03

Supply teachers are NOT paid above the odds...usually we are paid LESS than the average daily rate for our pay grades. My agency deducts some money from each day I work a saves for me for the holidays.last year I did a half-term full time role and was paid £450 LESS pcm than my previous full time contracted post. As for apply for JSA...who knows how much work will be available and when...so what are we supposed to do for money? Lots of us have other jobs such as shop work and tutoring...so 60 hour weeks can often happen as we can't afford to turn work down. Teaching is not a respected profession any more, there is no public sympathy and we are leaving it in droves. In any other situation the market forces would encourage a rise in pay but not in teaching...some are working for £80 a day and could only work as a teacher for 190 days...£15,200 annually...and that's if we're needed everyday. We work as supply for family reasons...but that isn't a living wage: it equates to £7.17 per hour if it's divided by the number days other employees work with paid holiday. As always goodwill is taken advantage of. The OP asked if it was possible to claim...she wasn't asking for a paid holiday...she couldn't work as a teacher for the holidays could she? So I'd say yes, apply, you've paid your taxes, you are entitled to...and yes , look for another job as a teacher in the holidays...good luck with that one! I am so tired of the vitriol directed towards teachers...it's a hard job....getting harder and people are leaving the profession in droves. One day well paid what we are worth.

BBackt0w0rk · 22/09/2017 21:52

Is there a chance that you can apply for a permanent teaching job that would pay more plus paid holiday and sick pay? Secondly I would be surprised if you would be eligible to claim Jsa when you have a second job. However, put your claim in and see what happens. If you are eligible for universal credit you have to attend the job centre once a week in person and show proof of job applications

Apocalyptichorsewoman · 22/09/2017 21:56

I think that this might be a wee bit of a zombie thread...

BBackt0w0rk · 22/09/2017 21:58

I assume the electronic signature system and once a week attendance is to try to stop fraud and to stop people going away on lots of holidays. It is not a case of apply once and receive money for years without contact with job centre staff

CoveredInFondant · 22/09/2017 22:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.