Are there any negatives to claiming jobseekers allowance?

wookie6

Hi,

If you are out of work but actively seeking work are there any negatives to applying for jobseekers allowance or is this just the norm?

I have always considered jobseekers allowance something that applies to people that struggle to get work for a long time, however is it still worth applying for if your next job may come along in a weeks time or just if you have already been unemployed for a period of time with no good outlook for employment?

agrinnall

You have to decide whether the positive aspects (some money, NI credits, routine for job seeking) outweigh the negative ones (signing on every fortnight, having to stick to the jobseekers agreement, perhaps having to consider jobs that you don't really want).

I have had a jobseekers interview today after returning to university for a year to do a postgraduate degree and almost 2 years since I last signed on. I was quite surprised to find that the agreement was less onerous than the previous one, I have to do three job seeking actions each week rather than two but I don't have to apply for non-existent jobs this time, which I found a real pain before. I was also paid travelling expenses (I'm 50 miles from my nearest jobcentre) which has never happened before. If the agreement had been too strict this time I wouldn't have bothered as I'm only doing it for the NI, I don't qualify for any money, but I'm reasonably happy with what they want me to do.

wookie6

Thanks, thats useful to know about the job seekers agreement, I certainly wouldn't want to have to apply for jobs that are not in my field.

an9i77

I always signed on inbetween jobs when contracting (either before I'd secured my next role or if my next role was not starting straight away but I was still technically able to work / look for work as per jsa agreement). The way I saw it was that I'd paid my taxes therefore was entitled to claim and even if was only for a week or so, that would be £68 (or whatever it is now) that I wouldn't have other wise had. OK so I may have spent a couple hours in the job centre setting up the claim, that's still £34 per hour if you look at it that way.
Even if you get a job in a week, it could take months so best to start the claim straight away.

hcb42

you have to weigh it up, for long term unemployed, even if no income, the stamp credit will be worth it.

for a week or so I wouldnt bother, more hassle than it is worth.

Pros: cash cons: being questioned normally by people with far less commercial experience than ones self. Still, it has always been the way you could limit your job search to certain roles within 12 weeks, then broaden it a little after that - not true to say that a CEO one minute needs to press widgets the next.