JSA Interview and the consequences

dank_2

After some advice please!

I was made redundant two weeks ago and have been job searching ever since. Got a couple of interviews lined up, but in the meantime, I signed up to claim jobseeker's allowance and have my first interview at the job centre this afternoon.

Thing is, I don't really want to sign on. Out of pride and all the horror stories I've read about them.

I have enough savings to live off for the next 6-8 months, and have no mortgage to pay as I live at home still.

So, what would be the consequence of me cancelling my interview this afternoon and telling them that I now don't want to sign on? Would I be able to change my mind in a couple of months and sign on again if I find it tougher than I imagine? Would it greatly effect my pension?

Thanks in advance!

LizzieS_2

One day you will regret spending those savings - you will need them at some point when you move into your own property.

Savings over 16K automatically prevent income based JSA payments - you will still get NI credits and help looking for work. Savings over 6K reduce the amount of income based JSA payable.

If you have paid enough NI already you will be entitled to contribution based JSA (savings do not affect this). It is paid for 6 months.

For state pension you currently need 30 years NI paid at certain levels - it could be different when you retire so no point in assuming you will be ok.

Go for the interview - you've nothing to lose and a little to gain.

dank_2

Okay truthfully, I have £22k saved up with about £4k in my current account. I just wanted to use what's in my current account to see me through, without touching my savings.

I have applied under the contribution-based JSA, so understand my savings aren't accounted for?

It's this that's putting me off applying. That coupled with stories of being more or less forced to apply for anything going. The initial discussion I had with an adviser on the phone suggested they had jobs in a bank for £12k or trying to flog a TV-Internet bedside system at a local hospital. Yes, I'm looking for work, but I'm not that desperate, yet.

I don't want to appear like I'm on my high horse, or that I'm better than others, it's just I'm fortunately not that hard up at the moment.

Robbie64

You can limit your job search for the first three months to something more suited to your skills and wage expectations. After 3 months you will be expected to look for other types of work and for less pay. At this point you can end your JSA claim if you wished, you would only have three months more of JSA to get anyway.

Make sure your Jobseekers Agreement reflects the sort of work you are looking for and the pay levels you are prepared to accept. Don't be too inflexible though as you could either end up not getting JSA or only getting it after a lot of hassle. But don't agree to something in your meeting this afternoon that you are unhappy about as you can be held to your agreement.

dmg24

Maybe you should stop listening to other people and give it a chance? Then you can make your own decisions.

dank_2

Just returned from the initial interview and it wasn't that bad, if you ignored the overwhelming stench of sweat, cheap booze, poverty and despair. I jest.

Just checked over the info I gave online and then got chatting to some lady who filled in what I had done so far and the kind of jobs I was looking for. Despite the fact she couldn't grasp the difference between being an Account Manager and an Office Manager, we got on okay and you could tell she was happy to speak to someone sane for a change!

Got to go back on Wednesday to sign some declarations, and then every two weeks after that to sign on.