JSA and voluntary work(kind of)

mills705

I recently became unemployed due to a poor decision on my part to leave my old job and teach my hobby abroad which is done by many people.

I spent 2/3 weeks out there before realising that the job wasnt all that it was meant to be so myself and the other guy I was out there with left to come back.

On returning I used the money I had saved up until I decided to claim for JSA.

I claimed JSA, they lost my first claim on the internet system and upon returning their call I had to fill out a new form.

I dont get paid in the UK for teaching my hobby- i do it as I want to. However I teach it for a shop essentially and the only thing I get in return is the consumable I use when teaching as well as my name being on the certification cards.

I told them I did this and she put it down as voluntary work and asked for a letter stating this.
At my initial interview I filled out the voluntary work form and he stated he didnt need the letter.
After a few weeks I rang up to find out, I received a call back from the processing center saying they had not received a voluntary work form.
They sent a new one out and I returned it, along with the letter hoping to get somewhere!

Another week or so passes by, I call back. I never get a phone call back, so its escilated several times over! Eventually one of the head people at the processing center calls me. They never received that one either!

He chats to me and asks me about my voluntary work, he informs me it would have to go to a special decision maker over my claim and that it would take about 5 working days to process.
That was last week. I still havent heard anything.

Do any of you guys have any suggestions? Ive already make an official complaint to the job center and emailed my MP about it.

Do you guys think ill be allowed JSA? Any thoughts welcomed!

xmen2

I'd recommend you look at the JSA leaflet on https://www.dwp.gov.uk for current rules regarding the receipt of JSA. There are two types Contribution based regarding the amount of National Insurance paid over the last two years and Income Based which is based on any savings, income, property, shares etc

As for the Voluntary Work issue, to claim JSA you need to be available and actively seeking work of 40 hours a week or more(hilarious i know) and you are allowed to undertake unlimited unpaid Voluntary Work as long you can stop doing it if given 48 hours notice for an interview .

If then the interview is unsuccessful you can continue with your unlimited unpaid voluntary work

Adereterial

I would be extremely surprised if you are allowed full JSA - you are working for a commercial enterprise who SHOULD be paying you for the work you do for them.

The Decision Maker may well decide to reduce or disallow JSA on that basis - it's called notional earnings.

It will take at least 5 days to process - more if the Decision Maker has any trouble getting hold of the people you are working for.