Is there some sort of benefit for me?

mel33

Hi, I'm currently employed temporary part-time through a recruitment agency & I get paid weekly.

My employer has said they don't need me in xmas week as they will be quiet & I've confirmed with the agency I wont get paid for this week.

They have said I can use all my holidays if I want to have some money but this only amounts to approx £40.

Does anyone know if I can get some sort of benefit to tied me over for this week as £40 wont go very far! I've asked the job centre but they said no, but there has to be some help?

thanks everyone.

unreal83

Hmm...I would have thought if you had an open job seekers/income support claim and then took in your payslips you would be able to prove that you didnt work for that week - i am not sure how it works.

If not then I dont think you can really get anything - pants really as you should be entitled to something.

Sorry I didnt want to read and run maybe someone will be along shortly to help! x

missapril75

It could be that you gave the JC the wrong impression. The term "enforced holiday" (the employer shutting down for xmas or a couple of weeks in summer always used to mean no entitlement to benefit (and may still do so) but if you are only working part time, you could be signing for JSA anyway - although not actually getting it because of hours worked or money received.

Also if you are temporary, you could probably sign on any time you're not working - although it might not be worth the hassle - so you really ought to be able to this time.

You'd need to be available for and looking for work etc and given that employers do take extra people on at xmas that should be okay.

If you say "can I claim for the break but there's no point in me looking for another job" they would say you wouldn't be due because looking for a job is a condition of entitlement.

If you say "my employer doesn't need me for xmas" (with no reference to working p/t and/or being temporary) then they will also say no benefit entitlement, because they'll have the impression you would be like anybody else taking leave from work.

Sometimes it's a case of asking the right question or phrasing it differently, if you see what I mean.

In this case it should be "the agency has no work for me for this period, can I apply for JSA?" and the answer would be positive. Many people sign on for periods between temporary work.

You should apply, the same as anyone out of work should. I mean for all you know, they might not need you immediately after the xmas week.

mel33

Thanks for that, I'll ring them again & probably get a different answer anyway as I know sometimes its a different answer every time you ask someone!