[Almost Resolved] JSA has been signed off - Am I looking for work or self employed?

Sixer

TonnnnUK wrote: »

Yeah I guess that is what they are saying, but I can point out that my activities prior to the last week I signed were all deemed sufficient and my EO signed my book and allowed me to sign. Those last two weeks in my job search included the activities I had been doing beforehand (which was deemed acceptable) PLUS this extra work I have been doing.

So if my job search originally wasnt meeting expectation why was it being accepted by the EO?

I can print out the job applications I have sent to schools, and a current CV if they needed to see these things.

I am not sure what my "JSAg" is, but I do believe I have been conforming to the general expectations that I have seen/aware of.

Do all of that. Take any and everything you think could be relevant: all the "here's why I'm not self-employed" stuff, plus all of the "here is evidence of my jobseeking" stuff.

Your JSAg is your Jobseekers Agreement. The booky thing where they write down what you agree to do in terms of jobseeking and you write down the things you've done to conform to that agreement. They ask different people to different things (eg when you first claim you can just look for jobs in your own sector for a while, then they change it to any job, etc etc).

FBaby

I'm totally confused. Why couldn't you be -at least in theory!- be looking for a job 40 hours a week whilst spending 16.5 hours trying to start a business. All that would demand is working week-ends and 1/2 hour one evening a week. Who are they to say that you aren't? Many business are started whilst people still work full-time. You could argue that you would continue to do the same even after finding a full-time job (which is more likely to be less hours than the 40 mentioned anyway...) and continue to build your business next to it until it start making some profit and you can give up the full-time job...

Sixer

FBaby wrote: »

I'm totally confused. Why couldn't you be -at least in theory!- be looking for a job 40 hours a week whilst spending 16.5 hours trying to start a business. All that would demand is working week-ends and 1/2 hour one evening a week. Who are they to say that you aren't? Many business are started whilst people still work full-time. You could argue that you would continue to do the same even after finding a full-time job (which is more likely to be less hours than the 40 mentioned anyway...) and continue to build your business next to it until it start making some profit and you can give up the full-time job...

I agree. It seems possible the adviser has made an error, particularly as he originally told the OP to sign off because she was now self-employed, when we can see that isn't the case.

However, if she hasn't (not saying she hasn't, just if) conformed enough to her JSAg, then the self-employment issue is an irrelevance.

TonnnnUK

First I'm a he lol. Secondly despite the self employment issue becoming irrelevant, surely if my job search all along hasn't been sufficient then the EOs signing my form as "efficient" arn't doing their job properly.

As I have said, my job seeking pre and post christmas never differentiated, but post christmas I was also adding the activities for my own client search.

Surely my officer could have advised me that I should work on this side thing less and make it clear I am still seeking employment (which I have been all along anyway), rather than just pull the plug right away and make me sign off. Not exactly a three strikes rule, but just a heads up warning?

I aint trying to scam the system, I'm simply trying my hardest to find a regular income and being open and honest about my activities. I really wish I hadn't mentioned this at all and there would have been absolutely no problem carrying on as I was.

Sixer

TonnnnUK wrote: »

First I'm a he lol.

Whoops! Sorry!

dookar

I think the job search thing is a red herring unless I've missed something?

TonnnnUK

dookar wrote: »

I think the job search thing is a red herring unless I've missed something?

How do you mean, dookar?

dookar

It sounds to me as though the issue is the 16.5 hours, which has no relevance to whether you are actively seeking work - if concerns availability for employment

CKhalvashi

Charityworker wrote: »

Yes I think you are self employed. Looking for work in jsa terms means looking for employment. If your looking for clients for your own business purposes it's self employment.

If I were you I would register as self employed online right now then tomorrow morning ring the working tax credit and start a claim for that.

You’re right in that the correct claim is WTC in this instance.

OP need to be fast in doing this, as can only be backdated 3 months etc etc etc. I’m routinely filling in WTC forms with new employees and try to get this done as soon as I have a few hours free, rather than leaving it to the last minute.

TonnnnUK

dookar wrote: »

It sounds to me as though the issue is the 16.5 hours, which has no relevance to whether you are actively seeking work - if concerns availability for employment

Ahh yes, it is, and I am and always have been available for work. I think I can fully justify things with the official HM C&R documentation with regards to being classed as self employed.

If they go the route that I am not doing enough in terms of job seeking time, it's double standards because my "lack of jobseeking" seemed acceptable before I was adding these other activities onto my work sheet.

I can compromise with them though as a last resort. I honestly didn't realise that my eagerness would result in me losing my entitlement to JSA, since I was trying to find would, I thought it appropriate to put down.

So I could say to them that I will continue to job seek as normal and limit the time I work on my side venture so that it is less than 16.5 hours a week. Would they likely strike that deal with me?:money: