JSA + Part Time

TJM-

Hi all, I just have a quick question I hoped someone would be able to give me an answer. I did a bit of google-ing but I'm not very clued up on this sort of stuff

If your on jsa & you also do other part time work (handing out leaflets or mystery shopper type stuff) am I correct in thinking that they deduct your earnings from your benefit ? e.g. If your earn £15 from working, instead of your usual benifit of £65 you get £50 as they minus your wage ? :eek:

Because if this is the case then would I be correct in thinking that there is literally no monetary gain in working 15 hours a week as your jsa will be cut accordingly ?

Hope that made sense, cheers

mynameistallulah

Correct to a point, except that you get a £5 earnings disregard (more if disabled/ a lone parent).

Surely the gain in working is being self sufficient?

TJM-

Thank you so much for your quick reply, it is very much appreciated

Call me a bad person but to me doing 15 hours work for £5 is not worth it, seems completely crazy that they would take away the extra incentive like that to someone who wants to do a bit of work.

It would be more productive spending my time looking for a job with stable hours so I could come off jsa completely.

Thanks again for getting back to me so quick.

mynameistallulah

If you are only working fifteen hours you have plenty of time to seek full time work, and you are not earning £5, you are earning your full salary!

princessdon

yeah - why work when I and others can pay - seems perfectly logical to me

TJM-

princessdon wrote: »

yeah - why work when I and others can pay - seems perfectly logical to me

Sorry for being made redundant

princessdon

TJM- wrote: »

Sorry for being made redundant

That's not the issue - as a worker and a tax payer (that you have been) surely you can see that all ethical people who have the ability to earn should do so.

The fact that benefits pay more so "not worth your while" isn't really a moral argument. If you can "limit" your benefits with work then not do so is wrong IMO.

mynameistallulah

TJM- wrote: »

Sorry for being made redundant

No one is criticising you for having been made redundant, the comments relate to your reluctance to help yourself back into employment. You do know that the longer you are out of work, the harder it is to get a job? Taking a part time job shows initiative and motivation.

TJM-

Your entitled to your opinion fair enough but ethics and morals have nothing to do with it.

Reluctance to work ? Hardly. If by working you'd be no better off (well worse of when you account for travel and other expenses) than you would not working, then that right there is the problem.

If you've previously worked 15 hours for zero extra pay then fair enough you're a better man than I, but I couldn't see why anyone would want to do that. Self pride doesn't pay bills.

Sure I'll get slated but life goes on, I'm just trying to get by.

mynameistallulah

What do you think would be more attractive to a prospective employer - a long term JSA claimant, or someone that has used their initiative and got a part time job?

TJM-

I have a complete difference of opinion to you, no point both wasting our time arguing.

Thanks once again for answering my post so quickly, all the best to you