"Going on Holiday" = Benefit Stopped!!!

red_devil

DCFC79 wrote: »

I believe its right as you cant be job seeking whilst out of the country can you.

you can there are computers everywhere now.

it sucks but its the law. Arrange your holiday around your signing on.

1940sGal

A4A1 wrote: »

Thanks for your quick responses, ..... suppose if thats policy then there is nothing else to be done, ............. just have to wait and see how long the " rapid response claim" takes when she gets back.
Just that I have never heard of anyone else having their claim stopped because they are going on holiday,.... but accept if they are not available for work then you dont get paid!.

I was away for a week once when I was claiming JSA. It was only in London though so don't know if it's different since I was still in the UK, but my claim wasn't stopped entirely. I signed a form stating when and where I was going then went back in after I got back to say I was back. As i said, it was never stopped properly but that may be because i was still in the uk.

kem1

It is different if you're in the UK. It's nothing to do with looking for work - there are special rules allowing you to claim JSA while abroad if you're looking for work, you really have to prove it though - it's about being available for work. When you're on holiday in the UK, you can reply to e-mails, arrange telephone interviews, come back at short notice if you were offered a job etc so therefore you're still available.

You'll probably be interested to know that under Universal Credit these rules are different and you will be allowed to claim for a short period while abroad. I've not seen any rationale for this, but I work for the DWP (and for Jobcentre Plus for a long time) and I'm guessing it's because the advances in technology mean that you can now do a lot of the above abroad as well as in the UK. The JSA Regulations are old!

A4A1

kem1 wrote: »

Hi - no, it's not a continuation of the same claim, it's a new one - however, there are very complicated rules within JCP around 'linking' claims so depends for what reason you need to know.

The reason we need to know is that the week after she came back from holiday she was due to start a Full time placement in a Care home which would enable her to gain the qualifications required to apply for jobs in that sector.
She was told that she would, (under the Governments back to Work Scheme) be eligible to receive the £40 a week for a year, a scheme which we have been told ends in July 2013.

Because the Job Centre have treated this as a new claim she has not reached the 13 week criteria required to be entitled to the £40 payment and therefore loses out.

This was a 1 week holiday for crying out loud! and this is why we need to know whether it would be treated as a break in an existing claim or treated as a fresh claim.

kem1

Hi again - sorry, but yes, it is a new claim.

Don't blame the Jobcentre - the Regulations are set by law, it's not something the staff have a choice in!

A4A1

kem1 wrote: »

Hi again - sorry, but yes, it is a new claim.

Don't blame the Jobcentre - the Regulations are set by law, it's not something the staff have a choice in!

Thanks for your reply,
I fully appreciate that these Regulations are set by law and if indeed this is the case then perhaps you could lead me to the legislation proper so that I may read for myself.

taxiphil

This thread brought a smile to my face.

Years ago I was claiming JSA after being made redundant but decided to spend a bit of my pay-off on a trip to Las Vegas. I timed it just right: 13 days to slot in nicely between my sign-on dates - or so I thought. The return flight via Washington DC was delayed so we kicked off a bit and got a free upgrade to Business Class. I was sat there above the Atlantic, being plied with Irish coffees and smoked salmon blinis, while filling in my job search. I drove straight from the airport to the JC and got there on time with only seconds to spare. It was the most surreal day of my life, going from movie star treatment to dole scum in the blink of an eye.