Got job offer but not starting date yet- when to tell JSA?

londoner1998

Hello,
I got a job offer on Friday, for a job that I had 3 interviews for so Jb Centre knew I was in the middle of this process. I have accepted it (how could I not? I am thrilled!) and I am now waiting to get my starting date confirmed. I am due to go to my fortnightly appointment with the Job Centre on Thursday- what shall I tell them? By what we have already discussed, I will be starting after the 2nd July but it is likely to be in August, as I have a commitment on the third week of July I'd like to honour (and new company are happy with this, so are considering whether to get me started early July and then let me free on the third week of July or just start formally in August).

So from now to when I start I am obviously not earning money but not really looking for work either- or am I (so that I can still get the JSA)?

Thanks,
Ax

slickc2100

:j:j

Congrats on getting job!!!
When you go in on Thursday tell them exactly what you have told us here..They will then most likely stop your JSA from the day you start.

If you have been on JSA for 6 or more months you may also be entited to a back to work grant I think. Hopefully someone with more knowledge will hop along!!

Congrats again!! x x

LE3

To Job Centre: "Yes, the interview went very well thank you. I am hoping to receive an offer in the mail soon" (not a lie, you do NOT have a job, you do NOT even have an offer yet until you get it in writing)
"as soon as I have something confirmed I will let you know. Until that time I am continuing to apply for other jobs"

You need to ensure that the job centre know that you are still looking for work - a permanent role - until you ACTUALLY start this new job. You tell the job centre that you have got the job on the day you actually start & not before - there are stories all over this board about people who have had jobs withdrawn at the final moment.
Obviously if you are not actually still looking for other jobs just in case this one doesn't actually come off (I had a verbal job offer a few years ago that took over 3 weeks to send me anything in writing, by which time I'd found a much better job!) then you tell the job centre that you are no longer looking for work & they will stop your benefits.
Quite simply, you are either looking for work or not. the fact that you have a possible job in a few weeks time doesn't change whether you are looking for work TODAY ...

londoner1998

Thank you!

I got the phone call with the offer on Friday and then the confirmation email came minutes later. So, yes officially I still haven't seen the contract, but we need to confirm the start date before they can issue it. So I guess that the email confirmation in writing seals the deal? Can they withdraw afterwards? HR emailed today to confirm I will get a call today or tomorrow from the actual team I will be working with to agree the date and my placement (they have several sites so we need to agree on which one I will be).

I am really happy, but I want to make sure I do things right...I guess I could still send applications until I start...

DCFC79

londoner1998 wrote: »

So from now to when I start I am obviously not earning money but not really looking for work either- or am I (so that I can still get the JSA)?

Thanks,
Ax

You can still claim JSA as your not working but you need to still apply for jobs to be eligible for JSA.

theoretica

londoner1998 wrote: »

I will be starting after the 2nd July but it is likely to be in August, as I have a commitment on the third week of July I'd like to honour (and new company are happy with this, so are considering whether to get me started early July and then let me free on the third week of July or just start formally in August).

I don't think it would be a good idea to tell the job centre anything that may give them the idea you are responsible for the job starting day being delayed.

notts85

You can wait till you get a start date before informing the jobcentre..its not a problem once you get a start date you can carry on signing untill that date. Jobcentre will not cause you any problems.

tactful

It might be worth telling them in advance if you want support with clothing etc. Not sure what your situation is, but if it's a barrier to taking a job - when you get an offer letter if you show it to them, and you need some clothes to get you through your first week or so in office wear (or wherever you are working) they are usually quite good and can help.

If you're pretty independent, then just continue to jobsearch and apply for even better jobs right up until you have a start date then let them know the day before you start that you are starting tomorrow. Make sure you go in and tell them though, and keep a copy of the form you sign when you sign off! If the adviser inadvertently doesn't close your claim down this can come back to bite you!

Awesome news on you getting a job, you must be made up grats!

londoner1998

Thank you all!

I think will tell them once I get the starting day confirmed...I still have some redundancy money and bought some clothes for those interviews (only a blouse, I used the same 'uniform' every time with subtle variations!) so is not an immediate need.


I am so excited, I can hardly wait...
Thanks all for your replies...I have never been in this situation and it is all a bit foggy. I got bitten by not signing on straight after being made redundant and then they didn't backdate my claim, so I am trying to avoid making a mistake again.

Ax

ktothema

Just make sure you are still searching for work, as they can still sanction you in that time. Anyway, its a good idea to carry on at it just in case this falls through. I hope it doesn't though. Good luck.

eamon

You do what LE3 said. Nothing more nothing less. You do it over the phone and if you have any paperwork to send to JC+ then do that on the day you start work. This will trigger JC+ to generate a P45. This you give to your new employer. If you are on other benefits such a Council Tax Credit, housing benefit etc then your local council may also need to know, check their web site for more info.
Best of luck by the way and enjoy your new job!