holiday when on JSA

[LalaDipsey]

Hi, I'm currently on JSA for the next 2 months until my new job starts. I have to sign on every 2 weeks. I'm a lone parent so get JSA, CTC and mortgage support. My issue is my parents are taking me and the children on holiday to France at the end of July for 5 days and this covers my signing day.
If I tell the job centre I am going abroad all my payments stop for 5 days and I have to reapply for them. It takes time to set up, in particular, the mortgage support and it's all a whole lot of paperwork for 5 days away.
However - ironically - if I go on holiday in this country I am allowed to complete a 'holiday form' and miss a weeks signing with no penalty.
It's not as if I'm off to an all inclusive 2 week holiday in the Maldives which I've paid for - it's only thanks to my parents taking us we are going.
WWYD? Do I lie and pretend we're going to Wales or do I tell the truth? And, if I lie can they find out?
Thanks

If you are going abroad would there be any link between your passport being scanned and their system? There might not be but there will be an electronic trail to prove you are abroad and you will be claiming money you are not entitled to (even if only a few days)

My personal view is that lying is never worth it and usually catches up with people but maybe that is idealistic when dealing with benefits

Thanks. I don't know about the passport tracking. I hate lying and don't do it - HOWEVER - if they stop my mortgage support and it takes a couple of weeks to restart it I simply don't have the money to pay it.

Nobody can possibly know whether you go abroad or not. I'd lie.

If you are going abroad would there be any link between your passport being scanned and their system?

There are barely links between one branch of the DWP and another.

No links between DWP and Passpot office (I beleve it would be illlegal actually), tell them it's a caravan in Wales

If you hate lying, and can't afford to have your benefits stopped, then clearly you can't go on holiday abroad. How would you/they feel about taking the children whilst you stay?

Thanks titchy.
Ifailed- The holiday is paid for by my parents and booked by my parents. I and my children are going. I haven't been abroad for 10 years. The children are too young to go without me. I have worked my bastard ass off to be in a position to take this job in Sept and been a lone parent for 5 years to 3 children after escaping an abusive marriage and I am bloody going on holiday for 5 days with my family!!! Thanks for your suggestion tho!

Lol at tracking your passport 😂

Lie. They will never know.

Will they let you go on holiday? Isn't job searching like a full time job to the dwp

Normally I don't advocate lies, but the system is so awful, so ridiculous, like entering a kafkeresque nightmare, just do it. Enjoy your holiday.

Normally I don't advocate lies, but the system is so awful, so ridiculous, like entering a kafkeresque nightmare, just do it. Enjoy your holiday.

Itstoohottoday - no they won't, that's why she's asking.

When you're on JSA, you're entitled to two weeks holiday a year, but only in Great Britain. It's very important that you let the Jobcentre know that you're going away. You won't need to sign on, but will need to be able to receive job information and come home for an interview or start a job at relatively short notice.29 Sep 2015

Tell them your going camping with your parents.

Thankyou. If they simply suspended payments whilst I was away I wouldn't hesitate - it's the fact that they stop them completely and you have to reapply which is a laborious and time consuming process; evidencing everything all over again.

'A friend of mine' when waiting to start a new job, went to a caravan in Skegness, not to the Amalfi coast, oh no.

Justmuddlinggalong- I hear Skegness is lovely in late July

The weather was surprisingly hot and sunny and the caravan had more facilities than any I've seen before or since. I can thoroughly recommend it.

...apparently

Enjoy your camping holiday OP

Am hopeful for such clement weather and excellent facilities as you .
Thanks for not making me feel awful about this - means a lot

Thanks Electricaid

100% lie. You utterly deserve the break. Don't forget we are linked to France by the channel tunnel so it's all relative, right? 😁

The system is utterly floored and we have been encouraged to elaborate and exaggerate in order to receive certain things by a welfare officer in order to improve chances on a claim. It's ridiculous. Don't compromise your situation- enjoy your holiday!

Do you not have to give your location and proof if you tell them you are going on holiday in the UK?

I've heard that on UC you CAN go abroad for a month but only if it doesn't affect your sign on conditions.

Along with the JSA, would you also have re-apply for the CTC and mortgage support if you went on a foreign holiday?

The reason for no foreign holidays whilst on JSA is that technically you wouldn't be available for work if you aren't actually in the country... so as long as your holiday is within the U.K. & you can prove that you have covered the terms in your jobseekers agreement with regards to actually looking for a job whilst you're on holiday there shouldn't be an issue.

Tell them you're going on a caravan holiday in the U.K. & enjoy yourself you won't be the first & you won't be the last - from an ex job centre employee