What happens next?

LLM

Have been to sign on this morning and on the way home, I get a call from a job interview i'd been for, offering me the job!

Briefly covered what would happen with the job centre advisor who said to keep signing until I start the job which is fair enough as don't start til mid August, but, what happens next?

I am in receipt of housing and council tax benefit, does anyone know if I will qualify for a run on as I don't get the full amount paid and have only been on JSA a couple of months.

Also, would I qualify for a clothing grant? Seriously lacking in the 'work clothes' department at the minute!

Thanks

joeblack066

Hi, didn't want to read and run as I thought its so awful when you've had no response!
Firstly, congrats on the job!
I don't think that you will qualify for a run on as you won't have been on JSA for 26 weeks which is the qualifying period. It might be a good idea if you speak to a welfare benfits advisor or CAB who can advise you on how to handle the transition from benefits to getting your first wages.
Advisors discretionary funds are very limited these days, but it's worth asking when you next sign on. Other than that, you can try the local charity shops to start you off, and also join and ask on Freecycle.
Good Luck!

patman99

The OP never mentioned how long they had been signing-on for. They could well have been on JSA for over 26 weeks.

One thing. Even though you have a start-date in August, you will still be required to look for work right up until the day you sign-off. When I got a start-date of April 11th back in mid March, I simply pre-filled my job-hunters spreadsheet (basically a computerized version of the JC+ form) for the next fortnight as I was doing the one for the previous 2 weeks.

One really good piece of advice given to me by a JC+ advisor was 'do not sign off the dole until you have walked through the door and physically started your new job. That way, you get your benefits up until Sunday'.

Anyway good luck with the new job.

RuthnJasper

Hi sweetie - many, many congratulations on the new job.

Before you go all-out on a new wardrobe though - maybe see if you can use the suggestions posted just to buy a few "mix and match" pieces, as opposed to tailored suits, etc., until you find out what the form is at your new workplace.

When I secured my current job, I thought it would be all 'power-suits' and 'designer haircuts'. Actually, it is more 'smart-casual' - clean trousers (even clean, nice jeans) and respectable tops (e.g. not T-shirts, but casual jumpers OK, polo-shirts, casual blouses/tops/etc. also OK). The only MAJOR no-nos are rude/offensive slogans on clothing, exposed midriffs/hips/too much leg or cleavage, etc.

Often, supermarket lines like George at Asda or TU at Sainsbury's are perfectly OK for work - and you can get offers and packs of shirts, etc., at good prices.

Hope this helps - even if just a little bit - and all the very, very best for your new job. xx

BYALPHAINDIA

I would say that you are better to walk thru the door in your new job, Before you start signing yourself off, As once you have signed off then in the event of having to sign back on, Then it would be like climbing a mountain !!

For a new wardrobe, Get yourself to a local Carboot, You an find anything a a Carboot!!

All te best likewise

viktory

patman99 wrote: »

The OP never mentioned how long they had been signing-on for. They could well have been on JSA for over 26 weeks.

Read the OP again

LLM wrote: »

...have only been on JSA a couple of months.

caledonian_princess

Congratulations on the new job and good luck with it for when you start. Spend some time at your wardrobe and have a good look at what you have and see if you can get the first few days covered. I'm guessing you have a least one decent outift if you were interviewed for this job. So, that's ok for your first day and as RuthnJasper says you may find that the dress code is more relaxed than you thought, if not, hit the charity shops on the way home from work or get on to ebay. I sell quite a lot of clothes on there and they're usually good labels in good condition I'm just tired of seeing them.

JournalGirl

I've bought some ridiculously cheap but nice work suits from Asda and Matalan. Well done on getting the job,

LLM

Thanks for the replies everyone, I am pretty confident that the job won't let me down as it's a local council that have offered me the job but I won't sign off until I have signed contracts etc and am ready to start.

As for the clothes, I do have some bits that I could wear but could do with a few new bits as have lost a bit of weight since I last worked (mainly due to having a baby lol!) but can muddle through for a little while.

Am due to go back to the job centre in a couple of weeks so will have to see if they can point me in the direction of someone who may be able to help re the benefits as could not remember how long you needed to be on it to qualify for the run on.

joeblack066, you were right to assume that a couple of months was less than 26 weeks, signed on in April!