JSA - Signing off question regarding final payment

LFryer87_2

This coming Tuesday the 26th April I have to attend one of these compulsory "new deal" courses. Obviously, like most people, I really do not want to waste my time with this s***.

Fortunately enough, after placing an ad online, I have been offered work on a freelance basis, for a company near me.

Obviously, I can't start this work just yet because I have to attend this compulsory course, which is why I have decided to sign off, regardless of whether this freelance offer works out or not...

What I'm asking is this - because my next JSA payment is due a week tomorrow, could I go to this new deal course (or to the job centre?) when it starts on the 26th, show them my job search for the past 2 weeks, sign off and still get my payment next week? Or - Could I sign off now? just ring up... and still get my payment a week tomorrow (that one seems doubtful though)?

All I know is that I can't afford to miss out on this final payment and I don't want to mess anything up i.e. having to owe money back into the system!


Thanks for reading and in advance for your help

spherelance

I think Jobseekers is paid in arrears, so you should be paid up to the date you terminate your claim. But it is probably best to go and talk to them, give them details of your start date and fill in the part of your signing in book you have to. If they say you have to go on the course but that means you can't the new job until later then they are placing barriers in your way and IMHO you should submit a complaint.

andyccm

You get paid JSA for the last two weeks everytime you sign so if you had signed today you would receive your money for the period 4/4/11 to 20/4/11 so whenever you sign off to start work you will be paid for the days since you last signed.

With regards to course etc. If you are starting work then you sign off and start work there is no way they can make you stay on JSA cos the whole purpose is to move of benefit and into employment

LFryer87_2

So my next sign on date is the 26th. Does that mean that if I signed off tomorrow (21st), I would only paid for 9 days rather than 14?

Can anyone else confirm this?

tameside

You can sign off tomorrow and say you are starting work on 26/04. You will be paid upto and including Monday 25/04.

LFryer87_2

Thanks so far, I think I've got everything I need to know now... do you think they'll make me go on this course until I actually start work? They can't can they, if I've signed off?

Just that I know this course is a requirement if I want to get paid...

tameside

Once you've signed off they can't make you do anything.

LFryer87_2

Okay thanks, just as long as I get my final payment I'm happy lol

LFryer87_2

Does anybody know if I can ring up to sign off any time between now and Monday? I start work on Tuesday but that is also when my new deal course was supposed to start... Worried that if I don't turn up for the course that I won't receive anything at all, especially since Tuesday is my next sign on day

misssmcc

just call them tomorrow, tell them the date you are starting work (26th i think you said?) you won't have to go on the course, a job offer is more important than one of their courses.

tameside

They won't be open now until Tuesday. Not turning up on Tuesday will make no difference to your benefit. Try to ring them on Tuesday to tell them you have started work. You will receive a payment from 13/04-25/04 a few days after signing off. (If you can't ring them on Tuesday, try to ring asap remembering they will be closed Friday 29th and Monday 2nd May. You can fill your book in and post it to them if phoning is difficult.