Stressed about Job Seekers Allowance - sorry long

[silver73]

Hi

Up to about six months ago I had a good job and a decent salary. I also have a degree, masters degree and years of experience in my area.

In a few weeks I will have on contribution based JSA for six months. I have done everything asked of me - weekly signing, attending a skills company once every couple of weeks, applying for jobs etc

Quite a while back I was advised to apply for voluntary work and after around four months the CRBs have come back and I'm in the process of arranging the start date and hours - have filled out the forms with the jobcentre and let the advisor know....

Last week I received a letter regarding a six month interview. A friend has told me that I'll have to go on a two week course. My main worries are that this course will coincide with the school holidays (I cannot afford childcare for two weeks as husband won't be able to cover that with his salary). In addition, it will screw up the voluntary work.

Does anyone know if I will have to do this two week 9:30 - 4:30 course considering I will have attended a skills training centre for 13 weeks? I know they mean well but I feel that they don't cater for professional people at the moment.

If I do have to do the two week course will they arrange it for after the school holidays?

I have also noticed that my JSA agreement says that there is no restriction to the hours that I can work when in reality I told the advisor that I could work 9-6 pm Monday to Friday. I did not notice it at the time as I had my children with me and could not wait to leave as they were making so much noise... Can I get the hours changed?

Sorry about the long post..

The 6 month interview when on contributions JSA wont be about attending a course. It will be to assess if you are qualify for income based JSA - which you wont if your husband works. Therefore you will only be eligible to have your stamp paid. The New Deal course is not normally instigated after 6 months of unemployment its usually a longer period than that.

After a set period of 13 weeks from the start of JSA, they do expect you to lower your expections re job title and salary and be very flexible with hours in order to gain employment so the JSA agreement is correct re no restriction on hours.

Hi

Thanks for that. The JobCentres are not consistent really as my friend was made redundant at the same time as me and has put down her availablity as 8 am to 8 pm and this is on her Jobseekers agreement....

Do you know anything about the new rules that are being introduced re training? How do they work with doing part-time study? I'd like to sign up for a 2.5 hour evening course (6-8:30 pm) is the 16 hour rule still in operation regarding study?

Thanks

seriously dont worry about it, they dont care, and wont give a shit..

My brother had his 6 month interview a few weeks back, and was shitting it, as he was told he would have to look at any jobs, work further afield etc....

he got himself all worked up, went in, was out in 10 mins

was told " there are no jobs, so no a lot of point us going throw them with you" " you are too old to qualify for training" he is 40...

they tell you all this stuff you have to do, when in reality as long as you look like you are looking for work, they dont give a crap

Thanks very much for that. It always sounds so dreadful!

Sorry to bump this question back up the boards but I have today been in for an interview to apply for JSA.

One thing that is concerning me is that I was told that if I don't have work within 6-9 weeks I will be asked to review the hourly rate I have on my agreement to show that I will work at the minimum wage.

I am already starting to worry about this. If I work at minuimum wage for 35 hours a week this will total £203 per week however, when I factor in childcare of £175 per week and then travel I'd need to FIND money to go to work.

My husband only earns £300 per week and every penny of that is accounted for.

This is worrying me and I know it is several weeks off yet but what do you say and do they care?

You can specify a reasonable salary and childcare restrictions on your jsa agreement but you need to do it at first interview.

Some of the advisors don't understand know this so you may have to insist on speaking to a supervisor or making a complaint. But it can be achieved.

Sorry forgot to add that if it's reasonable you can keep it for the full 6 months.

If you receive child benefit and you're not entitled to jsa non-contributions or other benefit then you don't need to sign on for your "stamp" unless you have an insurance policy that requires it to pay out.

did you say childcare of £175 per week? crikey how many kids have you got?

The new rules are more about helping people who are not helping themselves so don't worry. You'll be a job centres dream!

Yep. one child in nursery at £35 per day and that is cheap. That said what does everyone else pay?

Thanks for the help guys.

I pay £35 a day for 9-5 holiday club in summer and easter holidays. I think £35 is reasonable for an all day nursery where food is included and the ratio of staff to child is much lower than would be at my ds's holiday club.