New job: when to REALLY sign off JSA?

leecovuk

Hello again,

I believe we are expected to contact the benefits service and sign off JSA no later than the day before starting a new job. Is that correct?

If so, that obviously creates a potential issue where we are likely to be high and dry financially until the first pay day in the new job, if that pay day is a month after starting the job.

Assuming no salary in advance is available or practical, when do people actually sign off JSA? Regardless of whether or not that results in breaking the rules or then having to repay some benefit.

Thank you.

Mupette

speak to your advisor, is there a back to work reward? if so could this tide you over...?

I though the latest would be the day you start work... but the sooner you speak with someone at the job centre the better, they can't action anything like cancelling your benefits until the day you start...!?

Naf

I was just getting ready to post up about a similar issue. I'm in the process of starting a new job, I was told I would be full time from this week (i.e. today) so I told Jobcentre I would be starting, and they've done all the bits to close my claim and get a final payment out. Great; except today I've been told that I'll not be starting for another fortnight, which obviously leaves me with a similar black hole as the OP: roughly £200 shortfall.
OP: do you mind sharing the thread, or would you prefer I start my own to ask for advice?

Owain_Moneysaver

Naf wrote: »

I was just getting ready to post up about a similar issue. I'm in the process of starting a new job, I was told I would be full time from this week (i.e. today) so I told Jobcentre I would be starting, and they've done all the bits to close my claim and get a final payment out. Great; except today I've been told that I'll not be starting for another fortnight, which obviously leaves me with a similar black hole as the OP: roughly £200 shortfall.

Well, as you're here, contact the Jobcentre immediately and ask for a rapid reclaim for the next two weeks.

Owain_Moneysaver

leecovuk wrote: »

I believe we are expected to contact the benefits service and sign off JSA no later than the day before starting a new job. Is that correct?

If so, that obviously creates a potential issue where we are likely to be high and dry financially until the first pay day in the new job, if that pay day is a month after starting the job.

Assuming no salary in advance is available or practical, when do people actually sign off JSA? Regardless of whether or not that results in breaking the rules or then having to repay some benefit.

Thank you.

You sign off the day before you start work. There are provisions for benefit run-on for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, and you can ask for a crisis loan to tide you over the intervening period.

Depending on the employer you may be able to ask for an advance of wages by cheque. Be aware that many companies have a monthly payroll; if your start date is too close to the payroll date to be included then you may be waiting until the next pay run for your salary.

HappyMJ

You can "sign off" after you have started by filling in the slip in the booklet and posting it back. The last day of your claim will be the day before you start work. I would do it within the first week of starting work.

Naf

HappyMJ wrote: »

You can "sign off" after you have started by filling in the slip in the booklet and posting it back. The last day of your claim will be the day before you start work. I would do it within the first week of starting work.

But given my current situation, don't do it 'till you actually start :mad:

leecovuk

Thanks for the replies.

Naf wrote: »

OP: do you mind sharing the thread, or would you prefer I start my own to ask for advice?

No not at all. However your situation is of course a bit different.

If we are expected to sign off when we start work, then hope for a crisis loan to keep us going until the first pay day, I can't see that crisis loan being awarded! I phoned today to enquire about crisis or budgeting loans generally and it seems you really have to be destitute or in flames as you speak to get anything.

So there is indeed a flaw in the system where you are expected to live on potentially nothing until the first pay day? How can that be reasonable?

I haven't heard of or enquired about a 'back to work' reward. I'll look into it.

Darlyd

Am sure there is a back to work reward. (friend of mine got £250 last year)

How an earth can they expect you or anybody to survive if you don't get paid until the following month. ? Beats me..

gettingready

Similar in a way ...of nonsense with the system.

I was on JSA almost 6 months before I managed to get a job which I should have never taken.

1) As I was short by one week of the 6 months, I did not qualify for the 4 weeks HB and CTB "run on" or whatever it is called
2) My JSA was stoped on the day of starting work
3) My job was paying "week in hand" or whatever it is called so I did not have ANY money for 2 weeks, only got paid for the first week at the end of the second week by when I was already in arreas with my rent and council tax of course
4) Stupid agency taxed me at emergency code (despite having my P45 clearly stating my correct tax code) and I still did not get a refund

Now - this job has ened after 2 months and I am back on JSA but I still have arreas on my rent and council tax accounts.

OP - I have no idea how on earth am I supposed to start a job (if I find one) that pays monthly - how do they expect people to live on for a month till first pay day - with no income whatsoever?

The run on thingys seem to only apply if someone has been on JSA for full six months minimum...


Sigh...

Owain_Moneysaver

leecovuk wrote: »

If we are expected to sign off when we start work, then hope for a crisis loan to keep us going until the first pay day, I can't see that crisis loan being awarded! I phoned today to enquire about crisis or budgeting loans generally and it seems you really have to be destitute or in flames as you speak to get anything.

That's because (a) you're supposed to live on benefit, and (b) if you're skint enough to need a crisis loan you won't be able to pay it back. Neither applies if you have a job to go to so hopefully the Jobcentre will be more reasonable.

Tell the Jobcentre you can't take the job unless you get the crisis loan to tide you over.

If you have been claiming a qualifying benefit for at least 26 weeks immediately before moving into work you can claim a Job Grant of £100 for single people and couples without children, £250 for lone parents and couples with children.