Advice Needed Please

Horace

Please can you advise me? I was until 23 September self employed and in receipt of working tax credits, however, due to the economic climate which has resulted in companies not spending on events (I organised events for businesses), I have been forced to sign on the dole and now my working tax credits have ceased. I have been signing on since 23 September and I am still awaiting a decision on JSA - how long does it take for them to make a decision? I have no savings as they were spent trying to keep my business afloat and have no income at all.

I have full council tax benefit and some housing benefit which does not cover all of my rent. At the moment the council are awaiting a benefit decision notice with regard to JSA. I am rather scared now because I do not have money to live on.

Since signing on the dole I have applied for over 100 jobs - these can be all kinds from clerical to cleaning, I had an interview last week for a 3hr cleaning job, however, I had been invited to interview after the job had been awarded to someone else - I was told at interview which was mightily frustrating. I am doing what I can to find work hence me applying for all kinds of jobs both full time and part time.

How long will it take to get a decision and what happens if I do not get JSA is there anything else that I can apply for so that I can support myself until I get a job? I am mightly scared now...

karenx

If you dont get JSA there isnt anything else you can claim. If you have shown you left your emplyment with good cause, ie done everything possible to keep business going, then you should be entitled if you have paid sufficent NI for contributions based or income based depending on partners wage if have one

[Deleted User]

self employed dont get jsa

Adereterial

woodbine wrote: »

self employed dont get jsa

Nonsense, they do if the business has wound down or they are working less than 16 hours per week (though any income or notional income will be deducted from the payments they receive).

Self employed people can't get CONTRIBUTIONS based JSA, unless they've also been employed at the same time and paid the relevant NI contributions.

The problem is it takes more time to determine that there is entitlement when someone has been self employed.

OP - chase your claim on Monday and have them put clear notes as to the reasons for the delay to your claim on the system. Then, call for a Crisis Loan, if you have no other income. As long as there's notes on the system confirming the delay is with processing and not because you've not sent in required info a Crisis Loan can be paid (I'm assuming you have no other Social Fund debt at all - if so, this may not be the case).

skintandscared_2

I appreciate that paying debts off is important (I'm in the same situation and would LOVE to pay off chunks of mine in one go!) but perhaps it wasn't such a wise move spending the whole £2k your parents gave you on one credit card, especially as your mother is paying off the rest for you next month. Maybe keeping back enough for rent and food for a while would have been a bit more sensible. You've also said in another post that your parents are helping you out with food and have offered for you to stay with them while you get on your feet. I know it's hard once you've left home and have that independence, but if it's only for a short while would that be a preferable idea to, say, getting a crisis loan that you will have to pay back? Having to move back home for a bit might intensify your job search too I know it would definitely spur me on! :rotfl:

dookar

karenx wrote: »

If you have shown you left your emplyment with good cause, ie done everything possible to keep business going,

Doesn't matter, won't have any effect on JSA whatever the reasons

AnxiousMum

Whereabouts are you located? I know of a full time management job as an Event Organiser in Kent that is accepting applications at the moment.

Horace

@Skint - mum made the cheque payable directly to the credit card company so it was not possible for me to divert money (I wouldn't steal from my parents anyway because if I am given money for one thing then that is what it has to be used for - I even have to show receipts!). I object to your implication that I am not looking for work. I have applied for over 100 jobs since I registered as unemployed on 23 September, I have applied for everything from clerical work, managerial, call centre, marketing to cleaning cand caretaking. I am about to complete and submit a further 10 applications today - so please don't imply that I need to intensify my search for work, I am already doing that!

@AnxiousMum - I am based in Birmingham and am looking for work in Birmingham, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire - I need to be close to my parents who are both elderly and dad is particularly infirm and frail.

I have spoken to the Jobcentre this morning who advised that I should be hearing something by Wednesday, if I haven't received anything on Wednesday then I must call them again. I have applied for income based JSA, I know I cannot have contributions based as I haven't paid any contributions due to having an excemption certificate. I may well have to put my furniture into storage and go and live with my parents to get myself back on my feet but as yet I am not ready to do that.

skintandscared_2

Horace wrote: »

@Skint - mum made the cheque payable directly to the credit card company so it was not possible for me to divert money (I wouldn't steal from my parents anyway because if I am given money for one thing then that is what it has to be used for - I even have to show receipts!). I object to your implication that I am not looking for work. I have applied for over 100 jobs since I registered as unemployed on 23 September, I have applied for everything from clerical work, managerial, call centre, marketing to cleaning cand caretaking. I am about to complete and submit a further 10 applications today - so please don't imply that I need to intensify my search for work, I am already doing that!

I didn't imply for a second that you weren't looking for work!!!! That's kinda why the wink and the smile are there. Good for you, hopefully the hard work will pay off very soon. Good luck!