JSA - can you state how much you would like to earn?

bluejosiah

I'm receiving contribution based JSA, I just wondered if as a claimant I can state how much I would like to earn. Or must I be prepared to apply for all jobs that meet my criteria irrelevant of the salary?

TIA

[Deleted User]

I would have thought any job,even at min wage would be preferable to the £60 a week JSA,especially in the current climate??

oldmotherreilly

What did you agree to at your new claim? If you stipulated a minimum wage that is above national minimum, the advisor should have given you what is called a 'permitted period' of up to thirteen weeks, during which time you can limit yourself to looking for work at that rate of pay. This will be on the front of your Jobseeker's Agreement. Unfortunately, this cannot be implemented retrospectively so you need to have a look at your JSAg. After thirteen weeks, you have to be looking for a job at national minimum wage.

bluejosiah

woodbine wrote: »

I would have thought any job,even at min wage would be preferable to the £60 a week JSA,especially in the current climate??

Yes, but I wouldn't want to mess employers around by taking a job only to leave when something more suited came along. But maybe in this current climate that is what is going to happen?

NASA_2

oldmotherreilly wrote: »

What did you agree to at your new claim? If you stipulated a minimum wage that is above national minimum, the advisor should have given you what is called a 'permitted period' of up to thirteen weeks, during which time you can limit yourself to looking for work at that rate of pay. This will be on the front of your Jobseeker's Agreement. Unfortunately, this cannot be implemented retrospectively so you need to have a look at your JSAg. After thirteen weeks, you have to be looking for a job at national minimum wage.

That is 100% right.

bluejosiah

oldmotherreilly wrote: »

What did you agree to at your new claim? If you stipulated a minimum wage that is above national minimum, the advisor should have given you what is called a 'permitted period' of up to thirteen weeks, during which time you can limit yourself to looking for work at that rate of pay. This will be on the front of your Jobseeker's Agreement. Unfortunately, this cannot be implemented retrospectively so you need to have a look at your JSAg. After thirteen weeks, you have to be looking for a job at national minimum wage.

Thanks, I've just read it and it says "asking for minimum of £15K but aware if still u/n @ 6 months would have to accept minimum wage" It also says "will take into account possibility of claiming working tax credit on low paid jobs"

oldmotherreilly

Are you paying rent or council tax? When you go for your thirteen week interview, ask for an In Work Benefit Calculation (it should be offered but just in case..); ask for it to include an income forecast table and this will show how much you may still receive in these benefits, as well as tax credits, on a 'lower' paid job.

gemini24

If you are 25 or over and you take a low paid job for 30 hours or more, you can claim Working Tax Credit. This will give you a far higher standard of living than claiming JSA - these tax credits were designed for exactly this purpose.

Rather than think you are messing employers around if you get an offer of a higher paid job, think of it as giving someone else a job opportunity if or when you are fortunate to be in this position.

LizzieS_2

bluejosiah wrote: »

Yes, but I wouldn't want to mess employers around by taking a job only to leave when something more suited came along. But maybe in this current climate that is what is going to happen?

Fair comment, but I think you should be concerned with obtaining employment than worrying about what may happen in the future.

You may be used to a higher paid job, but you may suddenly find you can manage on a lower paid one financially & it gives more emotional assistance to your home life.