Going on holiday while unemployed - help

[RaceyLacey]

Hi, we have a holiday booked during May/June half term. Unfortunately dp's day to sign on falls while we are away. We have thought about coming back the day before he is due to sign but I am not driving all the way to Cornwall just for 2 days.

The plan was (if he hasn't found work by then(which is likely as there's nothing out there)) then we would just tell them that he had a job interview that he had to travel to and that it was a few hours long (not unreasonable as he's had a few like this). However, recently they've started really checking up on things. I don't have a problem with this as it really pees us off that we get treated like shit when we really want to work, and are only not working because we were both made redundant, yet there are people down there blatantly incapable of stringing a sentence together let alone working who seem to get treated better than we do.

We're not swanning off on some expensive holiday, we're borrowing my parents caravan, so it's costing £140 for the week. We've had it booked since before dp lost his job, and if we were working we'd be entitled to take time off on holiday anyway.

He does all of his job searches online, so as crap as it is, he can still spend an hour a day looking for work while we're on holiday. We can't go any other week as the boys will be at school and can't go during summer hols as we wouldn't be able to afford it.

If we go will our benefits get stopped? It's anoying as if his signing on week fell on hte other fortnight they wouldn't even know.

Please don't judge us for going on holiday while being on the dole, we all need a holiday from time to time.

Hello,

You can ask them to re arrange the appointment and do it for a day when you get back. You are allowed to go away its not against the law As you have said EVERYONE needs a break sometimes

Oh gosh just get the day moved. Don't start telling lies! That way trouble lies.

They should move it without making too much drama. There is also a complaints process if you are being treated badly (I've used it and got a lovely lady who was super afterwards).

Have a lovely time

I thought people on jobseekers were allowed to 'book' holiday? I would just tell the truth and see what happens.

Thank you dp is going to phone our BDC and see what they say. I'm sure they'll be their usual useful selves.

JAMM - we've made 4 complaints already and we're now dealing with the independent case examiner. We've only just started getting more than 2 payments in a row without things being messed up.

I don't know about your region, but they will not just move the day for you, at least around Edinburgh, where my BIL was on JSA till last week.

They're starting to get very strict about it, too. They wouldn't even move his for a job interview! I kid you not.

He missed two sign on dates once when he was on weekly sign on because he had an operation and despite telling them, giving them letters about his op date (hernia), etc., they still stopped his benefits.

He had to reclaim, rapid reclaim.

Thankfully, he is now working again.

Racey that's really crap. I'm sorry. Can you get your MP involved? I'm sure I've read about people doing that and it's been like a rocket up the arse of the powers that be.

Now's probably a good time as they're wanting to make a good impression...

fgs that's ridiculous. Everyone should be entitled to have time off for a holiday and certainly no one should be judging!

Apparently we need to fill in an ES674 form and sign on the day we return. We'll see how easy it is.

Expat - part of me is shocked, sadly part of me is not surprised at all.

JAMM - we have been corresponding with our MP too, JCP are very quick to respond when she gets in touch, however, they don't manage to address the issues, send letters to the wrong address (with all our details NI numbers etc on) amongst other things. Our claim has just been a catalogue of errors and incompetence right from the very start.

That is one of the reasons we don't want to tell them we're going on holiday, would be ideal if half term was a week later.

You're completely allowed to book holiday. As long as you show up on your sign in days at the appointed time.

Another time, BIL missed some appointment, not a sign in. He genuinely spaced it. He has some learning disabilities.

They went mental. Threatened to stop his claim, etc.

I have another pal who was on JSA until a couple of weeks ago, too, in Glasgow, and yep, you needed to sign in on your sign in date and time unless there was a medical excuse.

Oh, Racey, I wouldn't tell tehm you're going,tbh.

They get dead arsey.

They were dicks about his interview, Racey.

At that point MIL emailed their MP and it was magically moved.

FFS.

I mean, the point of JSA is to get a job! And being unemployed, he didn't want to start making demands on when he could interview. I mean, according to JSA you're supposed to be always available to work.

The job he has now is through a temp agency, but it's a long-term placement and he was glad not to have to deal with the gits at the Job Centre.

I have some basic understanding because it sometimes pops up in regards to my work, but dont quote me!

I belive that if you are on holiday in the UK and you are due to sign on when you are away, the job centre can change the place where you sign on. They say that as you have not left the country, you are still available for work and will accomodate.

If you were leaving the UK you would have to sign off for the week, but as you are not you should be okay.

Dont lie about it as you will not enjoy your holiday worrying about what will happen when you get back.

Have a lovley time, sounds like you deserve it, and good luck with the job hunt

I don't blame him expat. Until a few months ago DP has been unemployed for less than a week since leaving school.

He worked for a windscreen company for over 7 years until they folded (while he was on holiday, he turned up for work when he got back, was given £20 for a train to get himself and his van full of tools home). He signed on for less than a week then, found a temp-perm job with an agency and was working for that company for the last 6 years until they made redundancies.

Unfortunately all the jobs he's gone for won't take him because either he has no local knowledge for driving jobs (he moved down here with me when he lost his job), or has no experience. All agency jobs are a few days here and there. We've actually taken temp jobs a couple of times, and then realised the effect on the benefits was far more hassle than it's worth.

We're fed up with being treated the way we do by them and our experiences (as your posts show are far from unique) give us no faith whatsoever.

Thanks itsybitsy, I'd be happy doing that (although I'm sure if they can accommodate that then they'll manage to plonk it right in the middle of the day!)

'We've actually taken temp jobs a couple of times, and then realised the effect on the benefits was far more hassle than it's worth.'

The only reason BIL is able to take on temp work like that is because he is single, has no kids and lives at home.

People don't realise what a kerfuffle it is if you have kids and/or rent to pay.

Plus, when he started work, his benefits stopped that very second, even though he wasn't getting paid for another month.

Thats ok, hope it all works out for you

This is it expat, as soon as there's any change in the JSA, the HB stops, and having a private landlord we're always worrying that there's going to be a stoppage somewhere that will affect us paying the rent and then the tenancy won't be renewed.

The craziest thing is that my mortgage was £450 a month & interest rates being what they are would now have been less than £200. But as they didn't pay mortgages when I split with my ex they're now paying £750 a month for my rent.

Oh I could go on all day, it's a shame they don't listen to the people who have to experience the benefit system then maybe some improvements would be made.