JSA Claimant on Work Programme - Job Offer Accepted, pending start date

marc.faulkner

Evening (morning!) all,

Posting this question on behalf of my Mum, any help/suggestions greatfully received.

Mum has been out of work for a number of years now, and has been in receipt of JSA for about 4 years. She was put on the work programme.


Last week she heard that she had been successful in one of her job applications. She has a job paying NMW, 16 hours per week.

Due to the nature of the job, the offer is conditional on a successful CRB check, which has been applied for and is expected back within 4 weeks.


Just looking for some advice really regarding her JSA claim, as she is due to sign on again next week. What does he say to the advisor? As obviously she needs her JSA income to live on at least until she can start work (how she will survive through the first month until payday with no income, having had fortnightly, is another matter) however she is obviously no longer applying for jobs a she has one! She won't be able to produce evidence of what she has done to apply for jobs, as obviously she hasn't.


She has spoken to her work programme advisor, however she didn't seem overly interested tbh - just said congratulations and 'that means we wont be seeing you again'.


Appreciate your input.


Cheers,

justlooking2012

Im not one for playing the system but in this case I would just tell your mum to continue her jobsearch as normal as she hasnt actually got a job yet, basically until she starts she has no job.
Also I would not tell her advisor anything until she has started and then tell them, others may no better though

crabyducky

Yeah she needs to continue doing the job searches. Otherwise she will be sanctioned. Be careful about telling the advisor about the job. When I last had a job the advisor closed my claim, and I wasn't supposed to start for another 3 weeks.

just_trying

She must keep looking for work to still get jsa as she hasn't started working yet and it will be weeks until she does.

once she has the job confirmed she should tell them then, she should get a job grant, and a 4 week run on off housing benefit and council tax benefit if she receives these. I think the job centre will still expect her to go to the wp. Her claim for jsa will stop the day before she starts work. hth.

DCFC79

justlooking2012 wrote: »

Im not one for playing the system but in this case I would just tell your mum to continue her jobsearch as normal as she hasnt actually got a job yet, basically until she starts she has no job.

I wouldnt say its playing the systemt, its covering your bases but as nothing is confirmed then not much point in telling the JC anything.

RAS

She keeps on signing on and making application until she starts work.

Check out the possibility of a 4 week run-on in benefits (I think it is only CTB and LHA/HB but would make it much easier for her to adjust to the new job).

Elvisia

She must keep her ar&e well and truly covered - do not mention anything else about the job, keep signing on, then when she actually starts send back the little green form saying you are signing off from the day before your job starts. Otherwise as someone already mentioned she might be sanctioned for not looking for work even when she's just got a job!

busy_mom_2

Tell them she has the job we are not monsters, they will change her agreement to say she is looking for temporary work only or a job better than what she has been offered.
She will be paid up to the day before she starts but she should also be entitled to job grant ask at JCP they will help and certainly don't bite!