JSA + working - help!

yoyoyo1

Here's the situation:

I signed on last monday, on the friday before my good friend told me his family's company may have some casual work for me. He took me to the office and showed me the ropes for a couple of hours. He didnt know whether he could do it the following week so said he'd get in touch if he needed me. Came to Monday and I signed on, I hadn't heard anything from him over the weekend so didn't mention it to the JC. Monday evening came and he rang me asking if I could work from Tuesday. Clearly, I said yes.

I did about 18 hours over the next 4 days. I filled in a P46 on the Friday. They're not sure about this week, but maybe a few hours here and there, no longer though, as full time maternity staff are back.

I never intend(ed) to work illegally. What's the situation regarding JSA and the JC?

fluffybunnies

I don't really know anything about JSA and their system but i would advise that you go and tell them right away, otherwise you are leaving yourself open to the possibility of being caught fraudently claiming benefits.

yoyoyo1

Yes, i was planning on ringing in the morning.

Vader123

Came to Monday and I signed on, I hadn't heard anything from him over the weekend so didn't mention it to the JC.

Why on earth not?

The JC are trying to get you off benefits and into work (normally) so getting 2 hours "on the job" training for a potential job is quite important.

Vader

yoyoyo1

Vader123 wrote: »

Why on earth not?

The JC are trying to get you off benefits and into work (normally) so getting 2 hours "on the job" training for a potential job is quite important.

Vader

Because the nature of the conversation between me and said friend suggested that I would almost definitely not be needed. Again, the lack of contact over the weekend pretty much reinforced this and yes, in retrospect I made that mistake, but i'd practically wiped the opportunity from my mind. This can't be changed, nor regretted, so I'm just here asking advice from people who may indeed know what the relevant procedures are.

computershack

yoyoyo1 wrote: »

I never intend(ed) to work illegally. What's the situation regarding JSA and the JC?

In any one CLAIM WEEK if you work 16hrs or more, you need to sign off then back on again with a fastrack claim. If you work under 16hrs, you fill in a declaration of income then your benefit is reduced by the income less £10.

I put claim week in bold for a reason. Say you sign on a Wednesday. Your claim week is Wednesday to the following Tuesday. Say you then work the Monday following your signing on to Thursday and do 5 hours a day and the following week, you do none. As far as the Jobcentre is concerned, you've done two days in Week 1 and two days in Week 2 so haven't exceeded 16 hours in either claim week.

The Jobcentre should explain it to you but the upshot is that unless you sign on on a Monday, your claim week will be out of kilter with a normal working week so if its sporadic, chances are you'll not exceed 16hrs in any claim week and would therefore only need to fill in a declaration of earnings.

yoyoyo1

Thanks computer ^

My signing day is Monday, so my claim week would be the Monday to the Saturday and thus I worked over 16.

healy

computershack wrote: »

In any one CLAIM WEEK if you work 16hrs or more, you need to sign off then back on again with a fastrack claim. If you work under 16hrs, you fill in a declaration of income then your benefit is reduced by the income less £10.

I put claim week in bold for a reason. Say you sign on a Wednesday. Your claim week is Wednesday to the following Tuesday. Say you then work the Monday following your signing on to Thursday and do 5 hours a day and the following week, you do none. As far as the Jobcentre is concerned, you've done two days in Week 1 and two days in Week 2 so haven't exceeded 16 hours in either claim week.

The Jobcentre should explain it to you but the upshot is that unless you sign on on a Monday, your claim week will be out of kilter with a normal working week so if its sporadic, chances are you'll not exceed 16hrs in any claim week and would therefore only need to fill in a declaration of earnings.

The £10 disregard is the disregard for a couple.

If the OP is single the disregard is only £5.