When can I apply for JSA?

RoxRoxBling

I have been told that in a weeks time my hours will be reduced. The employer doesn't know how many hours i'll be doing but no hours are promised.

My question is when can I apply for jobseekers. Can I apply now or do I have to wait until I'm unemployed?

DCFC79

You need to wait tll your out of work, if you get made redundant then you can apply for jsa. Im not sure if no hours would then mean you get laid off. Maybe start looking for a job to get the ball rolling, the more you apply for now could lessen the chances of being out of work.

RoxRoxBling

Thanx for your quick reply. Way its looking I'll be lucky to get any hours at all. But clearly they want me on 'standby' should someone phone in sick.

DCFC79

RoxRoxBling wrote: »

Thanx for your quick reply. Way its looking I'll be lucky to get any hours at all. But clearly they want me on 'standby' should someone phone in sick.

But thats no good for you is it (unless you dont want the money), in the eyes of the job centre im not sure if the the zero hours is a valid reason to quit the job,

RoxRoxBling

I'm not quitting. They're clearly reducing my hours from full time to 'whenever they feel like it'

jobbingmusician

Have they talked to you about redundancy? They don't have the right to reduce your hours unitlaterally!

RoxRoxBling

Not too sure what unitlaterally means. And what about redundancy?
But no client's for them = no job for me

sammyroser

You can usually get JSA if you work less then 16 hours. As soon as you work 16 hours in one week you will have to sign off.

From the directgov website

Who is eligible for JSA?
To claim JSA you need to be actively looking for work and:
over 18 but below State Pension age
unemployed or working fewer than 16 hours per week
living in England, Scotland or Wales
Under 18s: you can't get JSA, except in special circumstances. Follow the link below for more details.
Under 20s: you can't get JSA while you are in education and your parents are receiving Child Benefit for you. If they are, and you've left school or college this summer, wait until 3 September before applying for JSA (that's when the Child Benefit payments usually stop).
Full time students: you can't usually get JSA until your course has officially finished - check the date with your college or university.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_200090.html

RoxRoxBling

Thanx! :beer: Just need to know whether I should apply now or wait until after my last day of full time.

jinger_2

It'd be best for you to claim the day after your full time hours are cut. If you apply now they'll disallow the claim as you're still in full time employment and you'll have to reapply. They can't take a claim in advance.