Holiday to Edinburgh..JSA Weekly sign on??

feyisondee

Heyya ppl Its Feyi here. Well sadly after working for the amazing NHS for 3 years, I was made redundant in June . So I've had to go onto JSA Income based allowance. For the first few weeks I was on fortnighly sign on, but now it's weekly. The issue I have is long before i signed on JSA I booked a hotel for myself and my partner to Edinburgh on the 4th August (Sunday) and to stay at a hotel up there for 8 days. Now the issue I have is that this will clash with one of my sign on dates, so for 1 week I won't be able to sign on (the 6th august) but i return on monday 12th. So the following week for the 13th august i can sign on..The issue I have is that I of course did my research to my entitlement during this period and was told your allowed upto 2 weeks. When I went into my jobcentre they said recent changes means you can't take a holiday even if it is UK based like mine..with my date only a few weeks ago I thought it was best to cancel..But now the hotel says i will not get my room back so I lose the costs of it..what can I do? and how? Anyone wo can help be appreciated

heronfolder

It's been a while since I was on JSA (2010) so this may not be 100% relevant now, but I was told to sign off and then re-sign on with a fast track claim when I was back from holiday.

This_Year

Think you've been mis-advised by your jobcentre. You'll need to fill in a holiday form before you go away. No need to cancel your holiday or to sign off.

Google suggests that it's an ES674 form you need to ask for. HTH.

feyisondee

This_Year wrote: »

Think you've been mis-advised by your jobcentre. You'll need to fill in a holiday form before you go away. No need to cancel your holiday or to sign off.

Google suggests that it's an ES674 form you need to ask for. HTH.

Thanks for the responses guys and girls. Well I did google this and of course came up with the same answer..I went into my jobcentre to request one and they told me 'new changes' mean you can't now take a holiday . Now the issue is that my holidays only a few weeks away and I want to let them know the hotel date and print off the booking as evidence etc alongside the ES674 form. But of course my local JS Centre is trying to tell me I have to sign off completely. When from what ive said is the best date for me to fill out an es674

wookeyhole1

I had to sign off completely for my holiday and the day I got back I phoned them up and had to see an advisor 2 days later on a fast reclaim. It took a week or so to get sorted again but was a lot quicker than when I first claimed. this was in may. hth

dookar

I'm not aware of any recent changes.

Fill in the form, if they won't give you one ask which legislitative change they're talking about.

Incidentally, you're not allowed a 'holiday', you're allowed to be absent from your home district providing you remain available for work but you may be excused actively seeking work

Jobseeeker

don't cancel your holiday!

even if you have to sign off and sign on again the JSA you will lose will be less than the cost of your hotel.

feyisondee

Thanks for the feedback people. So I should ask for a form?
How much notice should i give the JSA. Also i'm not lieing to them dookar..already told them it's a holiday because I was honest, maybe this is why they are saying i'm not allowed it..but I did say to them am going to spend 2 hours of the day at least searching for a job and continuing my job search.

I went into JSA office today, they said you can only get an es674 if you have a valid reason for absence from home..and holiday is not eligible

chocolatebum

this happened to my husband at the end of june/beginning of july, he wasn't missing any sign on dates but they wanted him to attend a course to make a cv. he told them the dates we would be away (just a week) and where we were going (north of scotland) and all he had to do was fill out a form to say that he would be away between those dates but that he would still be looking for work online etc when he was away. he was also told that he had to go the day after he got back to let them know he had returned however when he did this he was told they had given the wrong info and he didn't need to come in, his advisor apologised next time he signed on as she had told him to come in when he returned.

he didn't need to sign off and back on and did not lose any money. not got any idea of form numbers etc as i wasn't with him and he's not the greatest at remembering things like that

donnajunkie

dont refer to it as a holiday form. i simply say can i have a going away form. they expect to be able to contact you while you are away so will want a phone number. on the form you will put the details of where you are staying so have the details with you when you ask for the form because sometimes they offer to fill it in with you while you are there. there is a rule that says you must be willing to come back early for a job. hand it in on the last working day before you go and they will tear part of it off and give it back to you with the date written on it that you have to report back. this will be the first working day after you come back. if you were due to sign on while you are away then that will delay your payment. they wont release the payment until you report back and it will be the usual 3 days later that it arrives in your account.

donnajunkie

feyisondee wrote: »

..but I did say to them am going to spend 2 hours of the day at least searching for a job and continuing my job search.

I went into JSA office today, they said you can only get an es674 if you have a valid reason for absence from home..and holiday is not eligible

you have to agree to doing certain jobsearching activities while away. not alot just what is realistic. they dont check it.

if they are being difficult saying you cant go for a holiday say you are going away to look for work.