JSA contribution based - what does the commitment agreement look like

[MySereneGreyBear]

Hi everyone,

I was made redundant in April from my role of 12 years, ive never claimed so don't know what to expect. Ive been living on the pay out but I'm looking to seek work from October and want to claim JSA while doing this. I do have a 20 month old currently and he does not go to nursery. I want to know realistically, how many hours a week will they expect me to job hunt and will they expect me to just take any job as obviously, I'm limited with childcare. My parents can have him twice a day in the day time through the week or I'm thinking at looking for hours from 5.30/6pm small cleaning hours potentially while my partner gets back from work to take care of him. I know they expect you take a minimum of 16 hours, I've worked out I could live on less with the help of my partner which we have agreed on if I can't find hours that suit around child care. If I explain this, am I still expected to take a job no lower than 16 hours?

Parents can have him twice a week through the day I mean 😄

If you are not entitled to universal credit which has replaced a number of the legacy benefits you might be entitled to contribution job seekers allowance. I can’t advise on the number of hours you need to look for as I have an older child and the rules have changed. Turn to us is a good benefit calculator. Gingerbread online might be able to answer your question regarding the work commitment

If you want to return to work in October then start applying now and you might never need to claim JSA. Did you volunteer for redundancy?

@Lovingbooks I have used the calculator it says I am entitled to JSA Contributions based. Thanks, I'll take a look at the other suggestion. I have read that there can be reductions in expectations for the number of hours for parents with a child under 12 though. Just wanted to know experiences really as well as I've never applied for it before.

@LadyLapsang I want to start seeking work in October. I want to spend as much time with my little boy before having to go back into work, he won't be this age forever and I feel he has come on leaps and bounds with 1:1 attention. That was always my intention, I'm entitled to it and I've paid NI for 12 years so surely I should apply for it. No, it was not voluntary.

If made redundant, CJSA it is not means tested for a certain time period, you will be given the date when it changes

Contribution job seekers allowance also pays your National Insurance contributions whilst you are not working

It is 35 hours of Job hunting per week
Need to fill out online diary what jobs applied for

I had to attend the job centre once a week

However if you have a young child your circumstances may be different

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-jobseekers-allowance

You may be eligible for council tax reduction too

You would need to contact your council

If the op wants to delay not working until october if she claims job seekers now she’d be expected to actively job search now and be ready to work now it’s a condition of claiming.

@CeilingStarsSparkes

Yes I used the calculator and due to my partners wage I'm not entitled to anything but Contributions based JSA. I did look at the rules and it seems like I should be able to look for part time jobs and how a lower expectation of the amount of hours seeking. Once a week seems a lot! Did you manage to find something quickly and did they pressure you to go for any job? It's hard because I'm in a situation where it's only my mum that can look after my son during the week, on certain days and if I can't find something in those days/hours, only other option is later shifts as my partner only gets home for 5. But he has said if I can only get a small cleaning job he would help me out every month if I need it. There doesn't seem to be many hours other than cleaning around what I can do, it's only for a year though until my son gets his 3 year old nursery funds.

@Lovingbooks yes exactly, I'm enjoying what I can before I have to get job hunting. Sometimes I think people just think your being lazy and to get your arse back into work. Ive worked since I was 17 and damn right Im not rushing back until I need to! I am looking though every night just to see what's coming up!

I claimed for a few months two years back, I had lost my job due to injury, lived on savings until I was fit to start looking for work so claimed contributions based JS.

I was called in for an interview where I spelled out my caring responsibilities - I care for my mother - and said I couldn't sign up for any hours etc as I needed structure to my work week to be able to arrange care. TBH my work coach/ job advisor was brilliant. Put me down as looking/needing 20hrs, no nights , start and finish times that were reasonable and only a 20 min journey . Then I was given the lists of the sites to use, and got rung once a fortnight for a chat Luckily I found the perfect job within 6 weeks.

Now I probably got it easy as I had a working husband and we were never going to be eligiable for UC so me insisting 20hrs a week was enough was grand.

I admit it was daunting having to go and "sign on " but when you have carers responsibility - be it children or elders, they are pretty accommodating - indeed they were sign posting me to benefits mother could claim so as I could claim carers and not bother working !!!

@suki1964 that's good to know, I'm really not too fussy on the job I just need something that works around child care mainly as my mum also works, as well as look after my dad who has prostate cancer. So, I don't want to add too much pressure on her, unfortunately no one else is able enough to look after him! As you say, I'm lucky my partner has agreed to help me if I can only find a small job that's fits. I just don't really know what to expect but I don't feel ashamed or anything, end of the day we are entitled to use it when we need it, so I'd be stupid not to. I just don't want them to pressure me into hours I can't physically do if you know what I mean!