Can they make me take a job which will leave me worse off?

wazza

Have been for an interview to transfer from income support to JSA. I am a lone parent with children under 15 and have a mortgage.

Was looking at jobs available at the job centre. Found a job i liked but it is only for 18 hours a week at £8/hr.

Was wondering if they will expect me if not force me to go for this job which would leave me financially worse off? If i said no to that job then what are the consequences?

I know the job centre are keen to get people into work but do they care if they end up worse off? Don't get me wrong I DO WANT TO WORK but do not want to worry on how to pay for mortgage etc etc. It is hard enough to survive on benefits.

I want to get a job with at least 36 hours to make ends meet.

frank_begbie

First thing to do is have a meeting with an Advisor to find out the minimum wage that would not leave you worse off when you took a job.

Taking a job that leaves you worse off is the road to disaster.

hobbledehoy.

frank_begbie wrote: »

First thing to do is have a meeting with an Advisor to find out the minimum wage that would not leave you worse off when you took a job.

Taking a job that leaves you worse off is the road to disaster.

This reminds me of the time I went into the Jobcentre quite a few years ago. With what I was receiving as 'benefits' from everywhere, the job that I had been offered would have given me more money.
However, my problem was that the costs of getting to the job - £15 per day, would have left me worse off.

The lady in the Jobcentre just shrugged her shoulders and said that that was the way things are! You will have to hope that you will get a pay rise.

And that was the 'advice' I was given. To say the least I refused the job offer, but eventually got myself sorted with one that was more local.

As a matter of interest, and considering what they have said on the TV, if a job that came up now, and I refused it because it would have meant a net lower income after travel costs than what benefits were, would I be entitled to do that? I ask that, as the vast majority of my types of work is in the city, which would cost £38 per day by train, yet would be well within the maximum travelling time of 1 1/2 hrs each way that the Jobcentre expect of you.

McKneff

Take the job and look for another part time job to make ends meet.

tsstss7

wazza wrote: »

Have been for an interview to transfer from income support to JSA. I am a lone parent with children under 15 and have a mortgage.

Was looking at jobs available at the job centre. Found a job i liked but it is only for 18 hours a week at £8/hr.

Was wondering if they will expect me if not force me to go for this job which would leave me financially worse off? If i said no to that job then what are the consequences?

I know the job centre are keen to get people into work but do they care if they end up worse off? Don't get me wrong I DO WANT TO WORK but do not want to worry on how to pay for mortgage etc etc. It is hard enough to survive on benefits.

I want to get a job with at least 36 hours to make ends meet.

Have you tried plugging possible the wage into entitled to to see if you actually would be worse off with this job (or any other low paid possition) its not very often that IS beats tax credits and if the hours suit you then it could be a step in the right direction?

Oldernotwiser

Have you looked at what tax credits you would get if you took the job?

dugdale_2

Ask your adviser to do a "better of calculation" for you, you might be suprised how much financial help is available for you.