Contract for 0 hours, entitled to any benefits?

Ames

Hi all, just wanted a bit of advice.

If a 24 year old has their employment contract changed so that they have 0 minimum hours can they claim any benefits? Would they be able to leave the job and go onto JSA while looking for something else? Obviously with 0 contracted hours their income would be 0 so it's impossible for them to stay in the job and pay bills.

alwaysonthego_2

They could claim JSA either depending on their NI conts (JSAC) or on their household income (JSAI).

Ames

But would they be able to claim even though they have a job, or had one and left voluntarily? would they actually be classed as unemployed if they have a contract? I think that's their main worry.

robpw2

a 0 hour contract is just a standard contract that means your employer does not have to guarentee you hours in any one week but if theres work avalible you will still be working your normal hours some companies offer 4 hour contracts too

dmg24

They would be able to claim whilst they were employed (for the weeks that their hours/ income are below the prescribed limits), but their claim may be sanctioned if they resigned from their job. They would be expected to be seeking more hours in alternative employment whilst claiming JSA.

Ames

Thanks for that, she has no normal hours, which is the problem. In season it could be 50 hours a week, out of season it really would be 0. She's going into the jobcentre tomorrow to speak to them. Getting alternative hours is a problem as she doesn't know what hours she'd be working if she did get any, it could be anywhere from 9am to after midnight, and she'd only find out a couple of days in advance.