Help - think i'm going to lose benefit

Blackpool_Saver

sh1305 wrote: »

(enough hours for me to get kicked off JSA) it doesn't matter.

yes let's keep the employment figures down, what a load of :eek:

Jowo_2

sh1305 wrote: »

I'm sure I read that if a single parent has a child under 12, they only have to look for work during school hours.

.

I recall a thread on here a few weeks ago with a similar observation. This came from a parent who felt they were forced to take a job with anti social hours and someone else quoted the regulations that made it clear that they could resist certain requirements.

So yes, that could be the case, hopefully someone else can confirm and provide the specific JSA guidance on this.

However, school hours work is going to be like gold dust - not many opportunities but high demand for it.

DX2

Type of work
You can discuss what type of work is suitable with
your Jobcentre Plus personal adviser.
You can place some restrictions on the type of work
that you will accept:

If you are caring for a child under the age of 16,

you can limit the hours you work to 16 a week;

If you have a child under the age of 13, you can

limit your working hours to your child’s usual
school hours. You must still be available to work
at least 16 hours a week and you must be willing
to take up any employment that fits within these
hours.

Availability for work
There are some situations in which Jobcentre Plus
should accept that you are not available to take up
work. During these periods you can continue to
receive Jobseeker’s Allowance, even if you are not
in a position to look for work.
These periods include:

during school holidays if you cannot find

affordable, appropriate childcare. There is no set
definition of what is affordable and appropriate
but may involve a consideration of what
proportion of your wages would be spent on
childcare;

if your child has been excluded from school and

it is not reasonably possible for you to make
alternative care arrangements;

if you have received either a Parenting Order or

have entered into a Parenting Contract under the
Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003;

if you are dealing with a death, serious illness or

other domestic emergency involving a close
friend or relative. This exemption can apply for
between one and eight weeks depending on how
long it takes you to deal with the emergency.

Talk to your personal adviser and explain your
situation. Usually, you are expected to look for paid
work. If you refuse to apply for, or take, a job and
Jobcentre Plus do not agree with your reason they
may reduce the amount of benefit you receive, this
is called a sanction.

http://www.gingerbread.org.uk/uploads/media/17/7034.pdf

braineebird

Thankyou for all the replies.

I am seeing an advisor on Thursday and will discuss my fears and see what they say.

I will look for a job with more hours and then see what changes in benefit. It seems as though the housing benefit being redused combined with the reduction in JSA does mean I am considerably worse off.

Once again thanks for all the help :-)

DX2

If you get 16 hours then you can apply for wtc, then and only then will you be better off. Anything under 16 hours is going to make you skint.

concerned43

I think there must be some mis-communication between you and job centre plus. I take it your were on IS and moved to JSA in october because of the age of your twins.
The cannot stop JSA just because you don't have a job! Its their job to help you into emplyment not to put the fear of god into you :mad:

Check your job seeker agreement - ensure that it states very clearly the hours you will agree to, this would need to be 16 hours of more per week, but you can state days/times in your job seeker agreement. You will also be expected to 'look' for work while on JSA - which means you will check job centre vacanies (x times per week) and local papers etc and be in contact with potential employers (x times per week). They cannot stop your benefit if you stick to your job seeker agreement.

dugdale_2

Also ask your adviser to do a better off calculation for you (perhaps for 16 hrs at NMW) to give you an idea how much you will have coming in each week IF you were to find part time work

Indie_Kid

braineebird wrote: »

Thankyou for all the replies.

I am seeing an advisor on Thursday and will discuss my fears and see what they say.

I will look for a job with more hours and then see what changes in benefit. It seems as though the housing benefit being redused combined with the reduction in JSA does mean I am considerably worse off.

Once again thanks for all the help :-)

HB will only be reduced if you have more coming in than the law says you need to live on. Whilst you may have a reduction in JSA, you can keep some of it.