Experience of trying to claim JSA

chesky369

......why I don't want my interview tomorrow or weds this week......

They gave you two alternatives - are you going out with your mother twice?

......friends and family have been asking me to do things for them......

Are they paying you £65 per week to do them?

newlywed

healy wrote: »

I would think the priority would be to sort out the Jobseekers claim first and then go shopping afterwards, that does seem fair enough.

But from the posts so far, it seems if I want to go out for a day once claiming JSA, since I am not available to work that day, then I need to sign off for the day and sign on again. Are they serious?

dmg24

newlywed wrote: »

Does that also mean I should be available for work at any times that they decide? So are they going to expect me to work from 4am till midnight if a job with those hours comes up? Where is the limit?

A job of those hours would be contrary to the WTD. They will only expect you to take a legal job.

newlywed wrote: »

I haven't even started my claim yet, they wouldn't let me make an advance claim, that's my point!

So you are saying that because i have one day when I am going to a wedding in April, I will have to sign off for that one day and then sign on again?

Starting to wonder what the point is - I only really wanted my national insurance contributions covered while I seek work.

Your claim starts from when you make the claim, not the date of your first appt. Therefore you are expected to be available for work.

If you only require NI Credits towards your pension, you can pay these yourself without signing on.

karenx

newlywed wrote: »

But from the posts so far, it seems if I want to go out for a day once claiming JSA, since I am not available to work that day, then I need to sign off for the day and sign on again. Are they serious?

Yes. So if you fancy going on a weeks holiday which means you arent available for work or seeking work on those days, do you think its still fair you get paid JSA for it?

dmg24

newlywed wrote: »

But from the posts so far, it seems if I want to go out for a day once claiming JSA, since I am not available to work that day, then I need to sign off for the day and sign on again. Are they serious?

If your arrangements mean you do not fulfil your JS Agreement, then you are expected to sign off. Your agreement will cover attending interviews, JCP appts etc. Alternatively you can just miss the appt and receive a sanction, which is likely to be longer than one day.

tcr_3

I think some of you, including the OP, need to calm down.

They're not keen on advance claims because many who claim in advance don't turn up at their appointments. That's a waste of Job Centre time when so many need appointments. So that explains that.

As to going out with Mum, well, the appointment only lasts 45 minutes, couldn't you have considered rearranging Mum around the appointment ? Was that so unreasonable ? But you're right, you shouldn't be so roughly handled (assuming you were, of course, but I find that hard to believe anyway).

As to signing off for one day, then a rapid re-claim, because someone's got social activities to participate in during a period of unemployment, well we all know that isn't right, don't we ? Sign off because you're fixing the car or taking Granny for her shopping ? Na, don't think so.

dmg24

tcr wrote: »

As to signing off for one day, then a rapid re-claim, because someone's got social activities to participate in during a period of unemployment, well we all know that isn't right, don't we ? Sign off because you're fixing the car or taking Granny for her shopping ? Na, don't think so.

It is correct if it means that the OP cannot fulfil their JSA requirements for that period.

Jowo_2

Don't worry the point of the initial JSA interview is to inform you of the terms of the agreement and agree its content. Then you'll understand when you claim it that you have to be available for actively seeking work as a condition of receiving it and your personal commitments are supposed to fit round it.

fairydiamond

A few years ago when I was on JSA I was allowed a week off to go on holiday with my family. I'm pretty sure a 2 week holiday is allowed as long as you are in the UK and will come back for work if you are phoned up and offered a job.

I think this still applies but you need to get it all passed and forms signed at teh jobcentre.

suelees1

Give the OP a break. For someone with no experience of the system it quite understandably feels pretty absurd. They came on asking for some support not to be lambasted by some on here who take the moral high ground.

newlywed, it's very much a strict system and really too much to go into all the ins and outs on here especially without full details. If you want some specific advice there are lots of people on here who are helpful.