how many hours can I work while on jobseekers?

Doodlebug_

Title says it all really, I am currently on jobseekers allowance and on steps to work programme. I finish the programme in march but hav found a part time job (15hours/week). In order to stay on the programme I have to be on jobseekers. so can I stay on this while working 15hours/week??
hope that all makes sense

scooby088

You can still claim jobseekers as it's under 16 hours, but it's best to ask your steps to work advisor about it to be really sure.

Hammyman

So you're on steps to work and you've found a job. I can guarantee the one problem you are likely to have is activities on the steps to work programme clashing with your work hours.

Why can't you sign off? You're not going to get any JSA because of the income from the job. You're going to have to declare the income from the job to housing benefit and council tax benefit so you're going to get a reduction from those as well so again you'll be no better off. I cannot see any benefit in staying on JSA other than it being some kind of imaginary crutch for you..

I understand that to get on the Steps to Work programme you've got to have been unemployed for some time. Is it the thought of not having the safety net of JSA that is weighing on your mind? At some point you're going to have to break free of it and there is no better chance than the opportunity you have now.

I will add this. The job is 15hrs. Do one hours overtime and you have to sign off JSA that week. No idea what the job is but if it is anything to do with retail, I would be surprised if there isn't a request from your employers to do additional hours over Xmas/January.

You have a job offer that millions would love to have. Don't screw it up just for the sake of trying to stay on this programme. You should be viewing it that the Steps to Work programme has been a success - you've been on it and you're in work.

Doodlebug_

Hammyman wrote: »

So you're on steps to work and you've found a job. I can guarantee the one problem you are likely to have is activities on the steps to work programme clashing with your work hours.

Why can't you sign off? You're not going to get any JSA because of the income from the job. You're going to have to declare the income from the job to housing benefit and council tax benefit so you're going to get a reduction from those as well so again you'll be no better off. I cannot see any benefit in staying on JSA other than it being some kind of imaginary crutch for you..

I understand that to get on the Steps to Work programme you've got to have been unemployed for some time. Is it the thought of not having the safety net of JSA that is weighing on your mind? At some point you're going to have to break free of it and there is no better chance than the opportunity you have now.

I will add this. The job is 15hrs. Do one hours overtime and you have to sign off JSA that week. No idea what the job is but if it is anything to do with retail, I would be surprised if there isn't a request from your employers to do additional hours over Xmas/January.

You have a job offer that millions would love to have. Don't screw it up just for the sake of trying to stay on this programme. You should be viewing it that the Steps to Work programme has been a success - you've been on it and you're in work.

Harsh! I do not see JSA as any kind of crutch and I do not recieve any housing benefit or money from JSA as my partner works. I also do not pay council tax as i am in Northern Ireland!
I can not wait to "break free" from JSA as I actually do not want to be on it.
The job is not in retail and it will will not have any overtime.
I am doing a childcare course through the steps to work programme, I will not be finished the course until March 2012. In order to be able to finish my qualification I have to be on JSA, if im not then I am off the programme and cannot finish my course.
All I wanted to know was can I work 15hours and stay on JSA, as I want to gain my qualification. I am fully aware I will not recieve any money from JSA if I do this but do not recieve any money from them anyway.I am just asking for some advice.

ohreally

Doodlebug_ wrote: »

In order to be able to finish my qualification I have to be on JSA, if im not then I am off the programme and cannot finish my course

Are you sure about that?

The training provider will already have funding for you as you qualified for it at course commencement. Out of interest what level is the course, if it a level 3/4 perhaps I would consider all options, if a lesser course, perhaps you could restart at some point in the future if work dries up?

scooby088

Like i have said in this employment you will not be paying any ni or tax as i think, and you need to be working over 16 hours a week to sign off jsa....All i imagine you would be doing is signing for your NI contributions.

jazabelle

I was on JSA and working part time. They paid my national insurance, and I worked two days I think from memory (14 hours). Twice I did an extra day and just signed a form to say I'd done it, and didn't get paid that week. Eventually I then got a second job and was able to sign off.

anamenottaken

scooby088 wrote: »

Like i have said in this employment you will not be paying any ni or tax as i think, and you need to be working over 16 hours a week to sign off jsa....All i imagine you would be doing is signing for your NI contributions.

You are able to sign off JSA if you work 15, 8 or no hours.
You must sign off JSA for any week you work 16 hours or more.

Hammyman

Doodlebug_ wrote: »

Harsh! I do not see JSA as any kind of crutch and I do not recieve any housing benefit or money from JSA as my partner works. I also do not pay council tax as i am in Northern Ireland!
I can not wait to "break free" from JSA as I actually do not want to be on it.

It wasn't meant to be harsh...many people do see JSA as a crutch which is understandable if you've claimed for a long time. Maybe your rant actually shows that despite what you say you do subconsciously see it as a crutch.

And how the hell am I supposed to know you live in Northern Ireland? Last time I looked I didn't have a crystal ball.

xxJudexx

Doodlebug_ wrote: »

I can not wait to "break free" from JSA as I actually do not want to be on it.
The job is not in retail and it will will not have any overtime.
I am doing a childcare course through the steps to work programme, I will not be finished the course until March 2012. In order to be able to finish my qualification I have to be on JSA, if im not then I am off the programme and cannot finish my course.
All I wanted to know was can I work 15hours and stay on JSA, as I want to gain my qualification. I am fully aware I will not recieve any money from JSA if I do this but do not recieve any money from them anyway.I am just asking for some advice.

If you are desperate to finish your course don't take the job. If the course is a good one then once finished it should hopefully enable you to get better work/full time work afterwards. You have to decided which is more important to you, claiming JSA/finishing your course or having paid work. Personally I would quit the course and get off JSA as soon as possible and get some experience under your belt, especially if you have been out of work for a long time. Future employers I think would look more favourably at that than a course done while claiming JSA. You could always finish the course at a later date.

Doodlebug_

Hammyman wrote: »

It wasn't meant to be harsh...many people do see JSA as a crutch which is understandable if you've claimed for a long time. Maybe your rant actually shows that despite what you say you do subconsciously see it as a crutch.

And how the hell am I supposed to know you live in Northern Ireland? Last time I looked I didn't have a crystal ball.

i have been on JSA less than a year so its not just crutch-worthy yet! I do not rely on it as I recieve no money from it.
and maybe you should invest in a crystal ball....at least then you will hav all the info you need before you start to judge and be rude to people!
I was only asking for some advice, thats what this forum is for isnt it? If I was like you and knew everything I wouldnt have to ask!