JSA - what happens after 6 months?

forgotmyusername

Hi everyone

No judgemental comments please! I have worked from the age of 16 until getting made redundant when on maternity leave earlier this year.

I signed on in May after this happened and have been looking for part time work - between office hours Mon-Fri and weekends. I have had a couple of interviews in this time but have been turned down due to not being flexible enough (my partner works 6am-8pm most days so childcare and pick up from nursery falls down to me as we have no relatives who can help) or having enough experience.

I am attending every two weeks as required and am going above on beyond applying for the required 4 jobs per week (in the last 7 days I have applied for 57 jobs within a 25 mile radius). I hassle agencies every Monday and Friday, I send my CV regularly to the big companies, I offer to do work trials/volunteer etc all to no avail.

So my 6 months on JSA is fast approaching - two weeks in fact. What happens after this? Does it simply stop? Or will they make me go on courses and stuff? The staff never seem to know when I ask them.

thanks in advance

(PS I am not a troll, but a regular user of the forums!)

NickyBat

I am assuming you are talking about Contribution based Jsa, you will need to make a claim (mention next time you are in the jobcentre) for income based Jsa, depending on what you partners earning are this could out weight the jsa amount in which case you won't get any money.

pmlindyloo

Even if you are not entitled to Income based JSA then you can still sign on to claim your NI credits.

pcombo

forgotmyusername wrote: »

Hi everyone

No judgemental comments please! I have worked from the age of 16 until getting made redundant when on maternity leave earlier this year.

I signed on in May after this happened and have been looking for part time work - between office hours Mon-Fri and weekends. I have had a couple of interviews in this time but have been turned down due to not being flexible enough (my partner works 6am-8pm most days so childcare and pick up from nursery falls down to me as we have no relatives who can help) or having enough experience.

I am attending every two weeks as required and am going above on beyond applying for the required 4 jobs per week (in the last 7 days I have applied for 57 jobs within a 25 mile radius). I hassle agencies every Monday and Friday, I send my CV regularly to the big companies, I offer to do work trials/volunteer etc all to no avail.

So my 6 months on JSA is fast approaching - two weeks in fact. What happens after this? Does it simply stop? Or will they make me go on courses and stuff? The staff never seem to know when I ask them.

thanks in advance

(PS I am not a troll, but a regular user of the forums!)

You will most likely have to sign on everyweek instead of the 2.

They might put you in some sort of placement.

wssb

Hi, you can still claim JSA but you will not receive any financial support through this benefit as your partner works full time. And your NI credits will be paid through Child Benefit so unless you want the support from your local Jobcentre it seems pretty pointless.


Good luck with your job hunting, I am in the same boat, husband works long days/no family to help etc and all employers want flexibility.

gigglerm

I am in the same position, I was made redundant in june and currently on contribution based JSA I have been applying for everything I can but I am also not flexible due to having a 4 year old and employers don't seem to want to know, when my 6 months are up the job centre have told me that I do not to attend as I have a child and NI contributions will be paid.
Good luck with your search.

forgotmyusername

aaah right, so I will literally have one more signing on and get nothing after that? But I'm still expected to go in weekly?

Don't mind doing courses and stuff, but what about childcare? will they pay for it? So grateful I'm not a single mother

HappyMJ

forgotmyusername wrote: »

aaah right, so I will literally have one more signing on and get nothing after that? But I'm still expected to go in weekly?

Don't mind doing courses and stuff, but what about childcare? will they pay for it? So grateful I'm not a single mother

Maybe weekly....could be fortnightly.....that's only if you want the national insurance credits. A possible cheaper way is to set yourself up as a sole trader doing anything you want....you may even make a bit of money. You would have to register as self employed with the HMRC and pay your own national insurance contributions which are currently £2.65 per week. This may be less than the cost or travelling to the jobcentre every 2 weeks and signing on and it's much less hassle. If you did not wish to set up a small business you can opt to pay class 3 contributions which are £13.25 a week. If you claim the child benefit in your name you can also be credited with national insurance contributions and you don't need to sign on. You need to speak with HMRC regarding your current national insurance situation. The jobcentre don't pay for courses. A single parent would continue to get income based JSA after 6 months if they were actively seeking work and qualified for the benefit.

pmlindyloo

When you are making your decision about whether to sign on to get your NI credits please be aware that these are Class 1.

The NI credits that are awarded through Child Benefit (if you have a child up to the age if 12 years) are Class 3.

Class 3 only go towards your State Pension and bereavement benefits.

Class 1 go towards State Pension, bereavement benefits, contribution based benefits etc.

For more explaination see :

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/benefits_e/benefits_benefits_introduction_ew/national_insurance_contributions_and_benefits.htm