Off sick from zero hours, benefits?

[glub]

Hi I hope someone can help me please as I don't know anyone in real life to ask...

I am a lone parent whose youngest child has recently turned 5. I was on income support with housing and council tax benefit, child tax credit and child benefit.

A few weeks ago I came off income support (I think I still have the others, am waiting to hear) and took a job on a zero hours contract. I had to take a few days off due to an injury, so wasn't able to work my usual hours and therefore was not paid.

Will benefits be able to give me any money for that week, and if so, who should I contact?

Its impossible to say without seeing your contract but if its a true zero hours contract then its just a document setting out the terms on which you carry out casual work from time to time. So you would be able to claim in the same way as you would if you were temping through a temping agency.

And what way is that prepper? Do i need to make a new claim for something? Eg jsa?

Can't advise on that I'm afraid, I'm an employment lawyer not a benefits expert.

You mention taking a few days off but how many was it? If you were off for long enough and not entitled to SSP your employer should have given you form ssp1 which you can then use to apply for ESA. You wouldn't be entitled to JSA.

Thanks for replying but I'm still no further in figuring this one out :s

I worked only five hours last week. I usually do twenty. Its not far off minimum wage and to make matters worse I'm still on emergency tax...

I made a few calls today but could not get through to working tax credits or citizens advice :(

Anyone know anything?