Can employer find out that i've been on JSA?

Redbull

Hi all,

My unemployment (due to redundancy) gap is getting bigger and bigger by the day. Its now been almost 5 months.

When I speak to employers or agents, I get the impression that i'm now starting to get discarded for jobs as they think there is something wrong with me due to the time I’ve been out of work.

Im on JSA but do some unpaid work now and again. Can I say that I’ve been working for myself without being found out that I’ve been on JSA?

Would they be able to find out through tax records of some sort that i've been on JSA?

Thanks

HappyMJ

No, they can't find out but they really don't mind as much these days 6 months on JSA is fairly reasonable. What would they say with my 2 years away from full time employment? You can say you have been doing voluntary work, with the references to back that up I hope.

Redbull

HappyMJ wrote: »

No, they can't find out but they really don't mind as much these days 6 months on JSA is fairly reasonable. What would they say with my 2 years away from full time employment? You can say you have been doing voluntary work, with the references to back that up I hope.

Thanks for the reply. I do have references to back up what i've been doing.

I just feel that they hear how long you've been out of work on benefits and they throw your CV in the bin. They seem to think that the best people will never be out of work for long. Maybe im just paranoid!

I would feel more comfortable saying I have been working for myself and not claiming JSA

MrsTinks

The best people ARENT out of work for long... BUT by that I mean they will pick up voluntary work, do some SE work - they don't just sit and watch Jeremy Kyle By the sounds of it you are still doing stuff whilst on JSA - as someone who had a lot of people working for me that would go a long way... I hired a guy with a degree who'd spent 5 months waiting on tables. Chose him over someone working for a competitor with no employment "blip" - because it showed me he was willing to do whatever he needed to in order to keep working. If the only thing out there is voluntary work, that would be good with me too. If on the otherhand I EVER caught you out lying to me about your history I'd throw the book at you...

persa

Redbull wrote: »

Thanks for the reply. I do have references to back up what i've been doing.

I just feel that they hear how long you've been out of work on benefits and they throw your CV in the bin. They seem to think that the best people will never be out of work for long. Maybe im just paranoid!

I would feel more comfortable saying I have been working for myself and not claiming JSA

When I got my job, I had to provide a 5 year checkable work history, to the day. I had to specify when I was unemployed and claiming JSA.

If I had said I was self-employed, I would have had to provide accounts to prove it.

These sort of things come out in the wash. Best to be honest!

Redbull

Thanks - I do agree with all of you...however, there are still employers out there that would question why someone has not been in paid employment for so long.

I would not lie, theres no point as it tends to come back on you at some point.

Persa - I came across a job like this recently...so (although less common) i know some employers are VERY thorough and check you out up till the day you start work..and even have a whole section in their form about JSA dates and require 'hand written' references from the job centre

DCFC79

It doesnt matter if you have been on jsa for 5 months, im onto my 6th month of jsa and finally got somewherre. I would have been off it at an earlier date if i hadnt gave the wrong answer to an interview question.

persa

Redbull wrote: »

Thanks - I do agree with all of you...however, there are still employers out there that would question why someone has not been in paid employment for so long.

I would not lie, theres no point as it tends to come back on you at some point.

Persa - I came across a job like this recently...so (although less common) i know some employers are VERY thorough and check you out up till the day you start work..and even have a whole section in their form about JSA dates and require 'hand written' references from the job centre

It came as a total surprise to me - I was asked for these details after I had been made the offer. I was also credit checked!

The above wasn't an issue as I didn't have anything to hide, but if I had told any fibs, such as saying I'd been 'working for myself', it would all have come out there and then and the offer would have been retracted.

It's difficult finding a job at the moment - try to stay positive and keep plodding on. My employer picked me over several other candidates for various reasons - including that I didn't have a notice period! So being unemployed did actually help! Hope that cheers you up.

If you've been volunteering, you're obviously trying your level best to remain marketable, so if you come across any negative attitudes about being out of work 'for so long', don't let them knock you. I must admit, until I lost my job, I didn't realise how difficult things were - you assume it's easy to walk into another job until you're in the position of trying to do just that. I don't think people are deliberately cruel, I just don't think they really know what the job market is actually like.

Hope you find something suitable soon.

skater_kat

i have been working 7 hours (1day) per week since signing on. that way i have no gaps in employment history and a current reference. looks much better to be in *some* kind of work i think. unless they specifically asked about being on the dole i would not disclose.

Thanet62

I have a 4 year gap on my CV which I also struggle to cover. I had taken voluntary redundancy from BT after 25 years of work since starting work at 17. My partner had a successful career as a solicitor so we agreed that I would have the career break. It was a great time and I really enjoyed doing things with my children looking after the house, cooking, cleaning, school runs etc etc. Thing is I was a house HUSBAND.
Even now I still think I did the right thing but have struggled to return to the level of employment I enjoyed in my previous career.

FatVonD

I have signed on for JSA in the odd week when I've had no freelance work and, when it ends, they send a P45 (ie not the P45 you got when you left your last job) so it would be apparent when you presented it to payroll that you'd been on JSA.