to think that you shouldn't be able to claim JSA, when you have a job?

[Smud]

Genuinely curious about this. People can still claim JSA is they do under a certain amount of hours. Most of these are for things like supermarkets, where there is lots of overtime (IME)

Even if there isn't and it is a set contract, I'm not understanding why you can still claim JSA when you have a job.

I'm not trying to be goady, I'm just seriously not understanding it.

Not working or working less than 16 hours a week
To claim Jobseeker's Allowance, you must either not be working at all, or working less than 16 hours a week. If you are living with a partner and claiming income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, your partner must either not be working or working less than 24 hours a week. If you or your partner are working 16 hours or more, you may be able to get Working Tax Credit instead.
If you are working under 16 hours, or your partner is working under 24 hours, the amount of Jobseeker's Allowance you can get will depend on your earnings. If you earn too much, you will not be able to get contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance. You will also have to look for a full-time job as part of the conditions of getting Jobseeker's Allowance. Your partner may have to look for full-time work as well.
Taken from the CAB website, I guess it's a top up to help those in less hours/low paid jobs

Yep, its so that people who could only get an under 16 hours a week job can take that job, still get benefits to top up their income to a liveable amount and continue looking for either a second part time job or a full time job to replace the current part time job.

If someone is working 15 hours a week in a supermarket, and they are offered and take overtime that bumps them over the 16 hours, then they have to report that and they are deducted money - they cannot claim the JSA AND get the overtime pay.

You try living off what you get for working less than 16 hours and then come back and say you don't understand

You don't claim the full amount. My partner did this and I got his wages deducted from my esa. We were about £2 better off a week. And it was zero hour so he hasn't had shifts in two months. But it means a reference for him to apply for more jobs and a lot of people are stuck in the hole of no reference no job. No job no reference.