As an agency worker am I entitled to benefits and legal aid?

Denebola

Afternoon All

Just a quick query regarding my current situation.

I left full-time employment as a nurse with the NHS earlier this month because I was disallusioned and demoralised after 5 years with them and am now working sporadically with an Agency that I've been registered with for about 9 months.

My query is about benefits available to me if I cannot achieve my financial commitments each month because of the variable hours offered to me each week. Also I'm about to go through a messy legal process following divorce and wonder how I stand with 'legal aid' assistance.

Regards

Denebola.

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

Hi - with regards to benefits - you can claim job seekers but will need to inform them WHEN you get a temporary role, How much money you earned BEFORE tax, How much you earned AFTER tax and then they will pay you when you dont work - but beware, I think it is still "work under 16 hours a week" but you had better check with JSA

Not sure about legal aid?

GotToChange

Sorry to hear of your situation; I hope you can start to sort things out - I suppose it always feels a bit better to have some kind of control.

Your Solicitor will advise you re. Legal Aid (you of course have to get one that operates the scheme....) but if you are on a low income, you are almost certain to be eligible - HOWEVER - two things to note; firstly - you are expected to enter into the mediation process in order to mininise costs in the hope that you and soon to be Ex an sort things out without recourse to the Courts. Secondly, you can sometimes be expected to make an ongoing contribution - this is very much means-tested. Aaaand - you have to repay the LSC (Legal Services Commission) from any settlement that you receive (and it is deducted straight away...); admittedly the hourly rate is lower for LA supported cases but this can sometimes impact on the quality of legal support that you receive (in my experience it certainly did).


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