JSA - New to this, advice?

GemJar88

Hi, so as you might have read in previous posts, I am a recent graduate but I've been having a hard time finding work. I finished uni in May, but graduated officially in July.

I live with my grandmother who is on a state pension, we live in a rented house. Recently my father died and I have been struggling with this, so much that I've hardly left the house and have found even simple things like phone calls and arrangements difficult.

As you can imagine, this means I have had no money coming to me in these last few months and the only savings I had were spent to give to my grandmother for keep. I have a £1500 overdraft, and I am just £100 away from the limit. (the rest was spent throughout uni)

I am now getting to the point where I'm desperate to get some money, I have looked for work but haven't had any luck from local jobs, and I am unable to work further out just yet because my grandmother isn't very well. I have tried desperately to make money online, freelance work? Can't get a single client. Making small money with surveys and polls? Practically almost impossible. Selling things on ebay? Tried it, but I've run out of things to sell now. I've found that trying to make money online is just frustrating and disappointing!

You may be wondering why I haven't just gone on JSA. Well, I have never been on JSA, I didn't even know what it entails and what I'll be getting (I've researched it now - so now I know more).

So basically I now want to go on JSA. Just until a job does come up, because I can not live, once the limit on this overdraft is reached I don't know what I'll do.

Now my question is, when I sign up for JSA, will they give me back-money? Money that I should have been getting since I finished uni? Because the money I've been spending to keep myself is from a bank overdraft and not my own money. Will this matter?

Also, can anyone share their experience with JSA and signing up? I'm really worried about it.

ALSO, A few questions about JSA.

1: What is usually done during the first interview? Do you have to look for jobs there with them?
2: When I have signed on, how often do I have to see them?
3: Do I get the money straight to my bank or do I have to see them every week??

Thanks

DCFC79

Well what happens is you sign up jsa now and you get paid from now and for the period from when you last worked to now you have to make a separate claim for that period and give a reason why you hadnt claimed jsa for that period.


1: What is usually done during the first interview? Do you have to look for jobs there with them?
2: When I have signed on, how often do I have to see them?
3: Do I get the money straight to my bank or do I have to see them every week??


1. first meeting is you take along the docs your asked to take and the claim gets set up, cant remember if they look at jobs for you then. You do most of your job search at home but the advisor will sometimes look on the website for any latest jobs within your criteria.

when you sign up for jsa your asked about your finances etc and a few days later you get a call about your claim to A double check the answers and B to inform you of when you have to go down and tell you to bring copies of bank statements, proof of your id and a copy of a CV (dont think its essential to take 1 with you but they do keep a copy on film for you)

2. depends on your age how often you go, i currectly go every other week but younger people go once a week but they tell you this when you sign on.


3. the money for me is paid in every 2 weeks so might be same for everyone else.

You get a form to fill in and it just asks what jobs you have applied for over teh period of the week, registered with any agencies on which daye, did you use any of the 3 direct.gov facilities eg the website, the phone or the job search thingies in the job centre

If I have i missed anything let me know ?

Thanet62

Welcome to the world of the grown-ups! You didn't mention in your post what you graduated in? I take it you must be in your twenties but sorry to say you sound like you have just left school and very immature. Put your computer away and go out into the world, instead of wasting time with on-line polls (what are you thinking?).
Sorry to be negative but I get very angry with a generation of graduates that think they are somehow entitled to be spoon fed everything because they stayed on at school for a couple of years.

DCFC79

Thanet62 wrote: »

Welcome to the world of the grown-ups! You didn't mention in your post what you graduated in? I take it you must be in your twenties but sorry to say you sound like you have just left school and very immature. Put your computer away and go out into the world, instead of wasting time with on-line polls (what are you thinking?).
Sorry to be negative but I get very angry with a generation of graduates that think they are somehow entitled to be spoon fed everything because they stayed on at school for a couple of years.

be nice to newbies,

KevInChester

Thanet62, that attitude doesn't help - the reasons for the online polls is even a little of something is better than a whole lot of nothing. She is looking for other work as clearly stated.

GemJar88

Thanet62 wrote: »

Welcome to the world of the grown-ups! You didn't mention in your post what you graduated in? I take it you must be in your twenties but sorry to say you sound like you have just left school and very immature. Put your computer away and go out into the world, instead of wasting time with on-line polls (what are you thinking?).
Sorry to be negative but I get very angry with a generation of graduates that think they are somehow entitled to be spoon fed everything because they stayed on at school for a couple of years.

Thanet, I believe you are the one being immature here. And a little bitter by the sounds of it! I won't post what I'm graduated in, I'm afraid as that's none of your business. I think you should rethink your next posts on here and check your attitude in the future before coming on here and calling someone you don't even know "immature".

GemJar88

KevInChester wrote: »

Thanet62, that attitude doesn't help - the reasons for the online polls is even a little of something is better than a whole lot of nothing. She is looking for other work as clearly stated.

Exactly, I am looking for work. I'm not just going on polls and surveys, I'm trying everything including proper jobs. Sadly some people don't read things properly before getting on their high horses and judging others

pinetree

Hi,I would just like to say its hard enough trying to find work without the op going through such a terrible loss and caring for a grandparent as well.I hope things get better for you, dont forget you need time to grieve,good luck

GemJar88

Thanks Pinetree

pinetree

Hi again ,forgot to add go to the citizens advice bureau they will tell you if you are entitled to anything else:)

GemJar88

Thanks, I'm going in on tues to sort out the money issues of my fathers so I will mention this aswell