Jobseekers Allowance - awaiting start date for new job

rubyrobot

Hi guys. I have been claiming jobseekers for a couple of months while I was trying to find work. I had an interview the other week and was offered the job, but the start date isn't until September (no confirmed date, just been told it will be around September time).

Does anyone know where I stand with my jobseekers allowance? Can I still claim it until I start work? I'm still looking for something temporary until I start, especially seeing as I haven't had a job contract yet. If I disclose the job to them, will my benefit stop? I've had conflicting advice about it.

Also, is there a starting work grant? Someone told me something about it, but I can't find any info online. Thanks!

Caz3121

rubyrobot wrote: »

Also, is there a starting work grant? Someone told me something about it, but I can't find any info online. Thanks!

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/moneytaxandbenefits/benefitstaxcreditsandothersupport/employedorlookingforwork/dg_10013908

looks like you need to have been on JSA for 26 weeks for the job grant

rubyrobot

Ahh that's a shame, it's been just under 2 months for me. Thanks for finding that - my Google skills seem to have failed today!

rogerblack

rubyrobot wrote: »

Does anyone know where I stand with my jobseekers allowance? Can I still claim it until I start work? I'm still looking for something temporary until I start, especially seeing as I haven't had a job contract yet. If I disclose the job to them, will my benefit stop? I've had conflicting advice about it.

As I understand it, you will be expected to seek fulltime work until then.

Your benefit does not stop because you have an offer to start.
It stops because you have worked in excess of 16 hours in a week, and are no longer eligible.

Elvisia

I wouldn't sign off until you actually get a contract in your sticky hands and start your job. I think you can sign off retrospectively, you just post your little green form back with the date you started work on. Otherwise if the job falls through you might have issues if the JCP ask questions, or for example if the conditions change drastically and you decide not to take the job up. You will still have to look for work up until then, but always worth trying to get a month's temping in before you start.