JSA contract and Xmas?

portchieboy

I am newly claiming, as of 2nd Dec, and waiting for my 1st payment.

My 'contract' states that I have to visit 2 weekly (next 15th) and apply for 2 jobs per week. So that I can be prepared for next Tuesday, what normally happens over Xmas please? I cannot see there being jobs in my range available to apply for?

Thanks.

computershack

Over Xmas, common sense applies. You will, however, be signing on on the 29th as they don't close down over Xmas other than bank holidays.

Corpsebride86

With that then with the signing on early over christmas ive been shifted round on the jobcentre books im now on what they call new deal options where im palmed off on a "training course" so when ppl look at the official figures those on options are no longer unemployed apparently! where i have to work 4 days a week full time (although how exactly that helps me get a job when im doing 4 days work placement for £15 per week extra which will go on expenses such as meals and travel) and one day a week job search ill never know.

my money goes through by proxy apparently i no longer have to attend jobcentre until march 2010 what will happen to my money as im due payment on the 1st jan 2010 which is a bank holiday????

Nicklt

You shouldnt have to pay for travel or meals during this period, go back to the job centre and question this, you should get travel paid and food expenses.

Cozworth806

portchieboy wrote: »

I am newly claiming, as of 2nd Dec, and waiting for my 1st payment.

My 'contract' states that I have to visit 2 weekly (next 15th) and apply for 2 jobs per week. So that I can be prepared for next Tuesday, what normally happens over Xmas please? I cannot see there being jobs in my range available to apply for?

Thanks.

On the 15th (Tuesday P) you should be told that you will not have to sign again until 12th Jan as signing is excused on 24th Dec-1st Jan.

There are still jobs about, so just keep looking, but if you have a restricted JSAG then stick to it, and only look for jobs that meet that criteria. You don't have to apply for jobs that don't.

brightonman123

just make a list of places you have looked at- pointless applying for jobs you are not qualified / experienced to do, just to please the bean counters..

i am sure they realise a lot of places wind down for xmas.. just look keen- even asking as xyz shop if anything going counts!

.. and is it only 2 searches a week, now?

Corpsebride86

Nicklt wrote: »

You shouldnt have to pay for travel or meals during this period, go back to the job centre and question this, you should get travel paid and food expenses.

I tried this when they had me on my last 13 week course only that one was 1 day a week, weve been told they will pay our travel expenses after the first £4 and we have to get bus passes too which are £13 so then they divide that by seven to give a cost per day and then they deduct two days worth of that and then on top of that they deduct £4.

i argued when they put me there that if we are expected to spend all day there we should have a meal or drinks allowance there is a drinks machiene which we have to pay to use and when I brought it up with the job centre they said they would enquire about an allowence and when they had a meeting they were promised we would get free drinks as they would either give us tokens or urns for free drinks. i was assured they had them (this was 3 months ago and they havent appeared yet)

when you do your 13 week gateway period they put you in the same training course for a 2 week period full time and they give you a £2 per day meal allowance and they pay the full travel costs with no deductions however when you go onto the 13 week options course you dont get a meal allowance (ive fought to try and get it but to no avail) and they deduct at least 50% off your transport costs when you claim back.:mad:

its wrong. i cannot wait to get a job! the way the job centre treat certain people is wrong! they treat me like im enjoying the fact im out of work and like im a criminal when in fact i have hated every minute of it. I lost my job in january when woolworths collapsed, i didnt work for woolworths i worked within woolworths in a cafe that was franchised and unfortunately when they went our jobs did too and since then ive applied for well in excess of 300 jobs but with no sucess ive had interviews but thats as far as ive got

argh sorry guys vent over :embarasse

donnajunkie

Corpsebride86 wrote: »

With that then with the signing on early over christmas ive been shifted round on the jobcentre books im now on what they call new deal options where im palmed off on a "training course" so when ppl look at the official figures those on options are no longer unemployed apparently! where i have to work 4 days a week full time (although how exactly that helps me get a job when im doing 4 days work placement for £15 per week extra which will go on expenses such as meals and travel) and one day a week job search ill never know.

my money goes through by proxy apparently i no longer have to attend jobcentre until march 2010 what will happen to my money as im due payment on the 1st jan 2010 which is a bank holiday????

as far as your money goes if it is due on a bank holiday or shortly after they will pay it in early. as far as travel expenses go when i was on new deal they paid travel expenses after the first £4. be thankful you are not on the new flexible new deal as that lasts for 12 months.