JSA holiday entitlement question.

looby75

I know that when you are on JSA you are allowed 14 days holiday in the UK, but I was wondering how this worked?

On new years eve a friend asked me if I wanted to visit my sister in Scotland as he was going up there himself. My son and I travelled up there and were planning to come back on the Tuesday after New Years day by train. Due to bad weather all the trains were cancelled so I couldn't get back until the Wednesday, which was my signing day.

I spoke to someone at the JC who said to come in as soon as I got back and as long as I got there before they closed my JSA wouldn't be affected. I managed to get there before they closed and the advisor asked me why I hadn't told them I was going away. I explained it was a last minute thing, and they had already closed by the time I had decided to go away and that as it was a long bank holiday that day was the first time I'd been able to talk to anyone. She said that was fine and then got me to fill in a form, that I now think might have been a holiday form.

Does this mean that I have now used up my 14 days holiday, even though it was over a bank holiday and I didn't actually miss signing?

The reason I ask is because my IL's want to take me and my kids on a 4 day caravan holiday in August and I need to know if I have any holiday entitlement left.

Sorry for the long post I just wanted to get all the details in.

McKneff

I dont understand, there is no such thing as 'holiday entitlement' when it comes to JSA. As long as you let them know before hand and you can come back if required for an interview it should be fine.
You need to check with them if this is correct if you need reassurance.

Different if you go abroad, you have to sign off then.

looby75

McKneff wrote: »

I dont understand, there is no such thing as 'holiday entitlement' when it comes to JSA. As long as you let them know before hand and you can come back if required for an interview it should be fine.
You need to check with them if this is correct if you need reassurance.

Different if you go abroad, you have to sign off then.

I'll be away on the week that I'm due to sign on though. How do I go about being excused for signing that week?

dookar

looby75 wrote: »

I'll be away on the week that I'm due to sign on though. How do I go about being excused for signing that week?

You're letting them know before hand so it won't be an issue

looby75

so the fact that I filled in that form at new year won't stop me from having another 4 day holiday?

I'm sorry if I'm sounding a bit stupid, it's just that I have been told that you are entitled to have 14 days a year holiday but now I'm being told there is no entitlement *confused*.

dookar

it's a myth

HappyMJ

looby75 wrote: »

so the fact that I filled in that form at new year won't stop me from having another 4 day holiday?

I'm sorry if I'm sounding a bit stupid, it's just that I have been told that you are entitled to have 14 days a year holiday but now I'm being told there is no entitlement *confused*.

You can take holiday whenever you want and take as much as you want but you must still look for work in the period concerned and put it into your jobseeker diary. They don't mind if you spend time away from home in a signing on period but just not on the signing day. You can also sign on in any jobcentre in the UK if you aren't at home.

looby75

So if I go on holiday will it mess my claim up? I suppose thats all I'm trying to find out.

I'll still be able to job search on my mobile internet and we aren't going very very far away so would be able to come back if there was an interview, it's just that the holiday is the same week as my signing day.

looby75

HappyMJ wrote: »

You can take holiday whenever you want and take as much as you want but you must still look for work in the period concerned and put it into your jobseeker diary. They don't mind if you spend time away from home in a signing on period but just not on the signing day. You can also sign on in any jobcentre in the UK if you aren't at home.

ah brilliant, this is what I needed to know. So I simply have to tell my JC I'm going away and then on the day I am due to sign go to the JC by where we are staying, do I have to give them advanced notice or can I just turn up?

HappyMJ

looby75 wrote: »

So if I go on holiday will it mess my claim up? I suppose thats all I'm trying to find out.

I'll still be able to job search on my mobile internet and we aren't going very very far away so would be able to come back if there was an interview, it's just that the holiday is the same week as my signing day.

If you don't sign on it will. By signing on somewhere else your payment will also be late so it will in a way be messed up. and...they/you risk losing the paperwork between offices and it's your payment which is not paid.

looby75 wrote: »

ah brilliant, this is what I needed to know. So I simply have to tell my JC I'm going away and then on the day I am due to sign go to the JC by where we are staying, do I have to give them advanced notice or can I just turn up?

Yes you need to let them know where you are signing on.

looby75

HappyMJ wrote: »

If you don't sign on it will. By signing on somewhere else your payment will also be late so it will in a way be messed up. and...they/you risk losing the paperwork between offices and it's your payment which is not paid.

Yes you need to let them know where you are signing on.

Hmmm I'm also on the WP so I've just googled Work Programme and holidays and it came up with a DWP Work programme guidance pdf that says


Participant has a holiday planned (within GB)
14.
The process for participants taking holidays differs depending on their claimant group:
•
All JSA claimant groups are entitled to a total of two weeks holiday within a 12 month period

*confused.com* lol