claim for jsa been declined

trg73

i have been working with my local council as a seasonal gardener for 26 weeks in the summer and got paid off on 8th october i then applied for jsa but was told my claim was going to a senior decision maker who then shut down my claim saying i was working 16+ hours per week(they calculate my total hours worked for the 26 weeks and divide it by 52(weeks in year) and come up with 16+ hours worked per week, they also say the money i earned in my 26 week employment should be enough to keep me my partner and 4 young children until i get a start back with the council the following spring, i earned roughly £240 per week in my job and working tax credits which taken over a year works out at £120 per week, i still have to sign on every fortnight and when i asked at jobcentre to send a letter by fax to the decision maker they said they could not as my claim has been closed and i would have to phone and make another claim, any help would be much appreciated.

DX2

That doesn't sound right. Does your wife/partner work?

trg73

no my parner does not work

DX2

You aren't still claiming WTC?

trg73

i phoned them when i stopped working and we got the 4 week run on of wtc, only income we have is child tax credit, child benefit

bunny999

You do not have to sign on if you don't want to. Are you still officially employed by the council ? This could be part of why your claim was refused. To get jsa you have to be unemployed and actively seeking work not just waiting to restart work next spring.

DX2

trg73 wrote: »

i phoned them when i stopped working and we got the 4 week run on of wtc, only income we have is child tax credit, child benefit

You should re apply for JSA on Monday 8th November after your 4 week WTC run on has ended.

trg73

i have a letter of termination of employment from council stating why my employment is being terminated and the date of termination and i have also got my p45 which has been passes on to dwp, i am actively looking for work and i am constantly applying for jobs, the only reason i go back to council is because it is so hard to get a full time job where i live so i apply for job with council because i have nothing else at that time and i would rather work even for 6 months than not work at all

trg73

i am appealing the original decision but not sure if i re applied for jsa if it would affect my appeal, they seem to be able to do whatever they want

dmg24

There are special rules for seasonal/ termtime workers, and it looks like your claim has been decided on these. I don't know enough about them to advise further.

DX2

Your WTC will be more than JSA this will be the problem. As I have said once the 4 week run on has ended re apply.