On JSA, verbally offered job to start in January

[SageMistAndSnowflakes]

I have had a verbal offer of a job which will start in January and I'm on JSA at the moment.

Every thing I've read talks about telling the Job Centre when you've worked more than 16 hours a week. Not about what do when you've been offered a job that doesn't start for nearly 4 weeks.

Does any one know when I have to tell the Job Centre? My next sign-on is next Thursday, do I tell them then or wait until nearer the start date?

Maybe wait until you've actually started your new job (congratulations by the way!!) as that's what all the information points towards.

Well done on getting the job!

I'd ask them the next time you sign on. I think you'll need to go in either just before or just after you start work.

When I went from receiving JSA to going back to work, my last signing-on day was the day before I actually started work so I booked to see the lone parent advisor on that day and sorted it all out then. As I had been an unemployed lone parent for over a year I was eligible for a back to work grant plus a year's worth of run on payments of £40 a week. That had to be organised by phone from the job centre. I'm not sure if this would apply to you.

I also had to call the tax credits office to sort out tax credits for childcare after I had actually started work - they wouldn't speak to me even the day before. And then there was the housing benefit and council tax benefit paperwork to sort out but that could all be done by post.

But do ask the job centre - they'll be able to tell you exactly what to expect.

Thanks Snorbs. I guess what I'm worried about is the Job Centre stopping my JSA now, well before I actually start working.

Don't tell the jobcentre until have the job offer in writing, or you actually start the job.

Congratulations

Don't tell them about it untill just before you start - otherwise they will stop your jsa as in there eyes, you are not job seeking anymore! still look around, tell them what you have applied for etc.

I have heard of this happening to another mumsnetter

I would say you have had an interview - looking positve but not confirmed, and then say other things you have done in job searching eg looked in paper, web searches - you will know what they are expecting
and if you are getting other benifits as Snorbs said it would be worth finding out what you need to do once you start work
if you are just on contributions based with no other benifits in my expereince they are pretty lack about what they require

Thanks all, you've helped me decide what to do.