JSA - working ad-hoc part time

epitome

Nov 08, This is an old thread

ukdickie31

When you work part time, you declare the hours worked when you sign on, on a B7 form. This allows you to show what you have done each day over the last 2 weeks. You also will be asked to produce payslips for any wages you have received in the 2 week period that you have signed on for.

Some weeks this may be NIL, some weeks 3 hours, some 10 hours etc. You just declare what you have done.

Averaging the pay is more complicated.

JSA isn't reduced until you receive pay. Averaging is done over a longer period when wages fluctuate. Sometimes this may be on a 13 week average if no pattern of earnings can be established.

ukdickie31

Whilst you have a part time job, whether you actually work any hours or not, get paid or not, you have to complete the B7 for the 2 week period ending when you sign on.

When you initially declare the part time employment, just state the hours as variable.

Earnings are taken into account as they are paid, not for the period earned. For example if you work in W/C 13 October but get these paid in W/C 20 October, they are deducted from your benefit week covering W/C 20 October.

Easier to explain on a calendar than type here, but hopefully you get the gist.

If you do 16 hours or more in a benefit week, then your JSA claim will terminate. You can however reclaim when your hours drop. This may actually be the very next day. There is a process called a Rapid Reclaim and should be a simpler reclaim process because the details are the same, apart from the change in hours.

flossy_splodge

However, may I just bring to your attention that the Government, via the benefits agency, will not expect you to continue accepting that you get so few hours work in this current job and just claim from the taxpayer for the intervening time! If it continues to be insufficiwent to meet your needs you will be encouraged/expected to seek employment that DOES meet your financial needs.;)