Have posted this on Chat too for more traffic.
Been out of work for quite a while after leaving DV relationship which meant leaving job and everything behind and moving a few counties away.
Due to the 'fall out' of all that I had to go on ESA for a while. Then I was moved onto Jobseekers Allowance. Not had much luck despite applying for loads of jobs and getting interviews in my old line of work. etc.
I finally get a break at a local pub/ restaurant, not work I'm used to, and minimum wage, but was over the moon.. just wanted to get back to working. I was told they could definitely give me 20 hours work (as were short staffed.. as long as i didn't mind a variety of jobs..) a week until it got busier (told this verbally.. not in writing). Great I thought.. I can come off JSA. I'd only need about 12 hours a week on min wage to get the same as on JSA roughly and therefore worthwhile. (By the way I have been doing lots of volunteering too, but I really desperately need to be earning again.. I can't manage.. and until what happened , I had always, always worked.. I've never for e.g. had break to have children etc. I hate relying on state benefits though obviously was extremely grateful they were there when I was in a dire situation and homeless )
So, I started the new job earlier this week, hard work as not done bar work /waitressing before but I took to it, all good so far, lots of praise and compliments. Also did gladly did shifts no one else wanted (when usual person was off sick) e.g. washing up in the kitchens.. (I did this 25 years ago as a student so at least knew what to expect). I had a good amount of hours this week in total due to staff shortages.. Rang my JSA advisor and she said I'd have to sign off as more than 16 hours. Fair enough... with 20 hours a week I can sign off for good. It all felt a new start for me.
And then I get told... they can only give me 3 hours work for next week. Same for the week after. There is absolutely nothing else going.
I'm totally gutted. With the wages I've earned this week, I may have to pay some back , fair enough (not sure.. am seeing my advisor next week to work it all out) But... I have to be signed off due to this week.
Then I suppose will have to sign on again due to them only offering me 3 hours (of washing up) a week for next two weeks. I don't know what to do. If I stay signed off, then I'm living on 3 hours pay on min wage a week , which of course I can't, no one could. If I sign back on, I get my usual JSA minus the washing up wages. In effect that means I work for nothing doing the job no one else wants. I have to give those wages back. For scrubbing congealed meat off pans when I'm a veggie . Which is only just bearable when I'm being paid for it.