Can I apply to JSA while volunteering through my own non-profit organisation?

Jessica9_2

Hi all,

I have created few weeks ago a non-profit organisation and social enterprise based in London. However, due to last minutes adjustments I have registered this week to Job Centre and claim for job seeker allowance.

The adviser told me that I have the right for this benefit as much as I don't do more than 16 hours per week. In my case, I have stated to JobCentre that I will do the volunteering for maximum 12 hours per week (since most tasks will be delegate volunteers or freelancers).

Thanks in advance for your help,

Jessica

Ps : The main activity of the non-profit organisation will be internet marketing.

Southend1

Jessica9 wrote: »

Hi all,

I have created few weeks ago a non-profit organisation and social enterprise based in London. However, due to last minutes adjustments I have registered this week to Job Centre and claim for job seeker allowance.

The adviser told me that I have the right for this benefit as much as I don't do more than 16 hours per week. In my case, I have stated to JobCentre that I will do the volunteering for maximum 12 hours per week (since most tasks will be delegate volunteers or freelancers).

Thanks in advance for your help,

Jessica

Ps : The main activity of the non-profit organisation will be internet marketing.

Are you taking a wage/fee from the business?

Why do you doubt the job centre's advice?

Jessica9_2

Southend1 wrote: »

Are you taking a wage/fee from the business?

No since there is no income yet and I do not think that will be possible before at least three to six months.

Southend1 wrote: »

Why do you doubt the job centre's advice?

Because that was a quick advice and the main fact being that I am the director of the organisation.

The adviser was arguing about the fact that I put 24h phone assistance on the organisation website while at the same time I state to him that I will not do volunteering job more than 12 hours per week (I receive at the moment 1 call per month for a duration less than 3 minutes).

System

Jessica9 wrote: »

I am the director of the organisation.

Am I missing something? How can you be the director and volunteer at the same time?

CKhalvashi

!!!!!! wrote: »

Am I missing something? How can you be the director and volunteer at the same time?

We've had this discussion here, and seem to have not had any answers from OP, or been able to give any meaningful help (at least 4 of us with business experience were present), due to a serious lack of forthcoming info from OP.

OP, as I've already told you, if this is through a limited company, then there had better be some form of cash to one side, to pay minimum wage in the near future.

Please also be aware that immigration issues may come into play here (due to South America having been mentioned significantly), as volunteering is work for visa purposes, and this could see you with significant fines. A Tier 5 visa is what will be needed, and these are (probably unsurprisingly) very difficult to get.

CK

Funky_Bold_Ribena

!!!!!! wrote: »

Am I missing something? How can you be the director and volunteer at the same time?

How can you be director of two companies (this one and the other ltd company mentioned on the other thread), volunteer and offer 24 hour assistance and look for other jobs at the same time?

If I were the adviser I'd be suspicious as well.

Jessica9_2

CKhalvashi wrote: »

We've had this discussion here, and seem to have not had any answers from OP, or been able to give any meaningful help (at least 4 of us with business experience were present), due to a serious lack of forthcoming info from OP.

OP, as I've already told you, if this is through a limited company, then there had better be some form of cash to one side, to pay minimum wage in the near future.

Please also be aware that immigration issues may come into play here (due to South America having been mentioned significantly), as volunteering is work for visa purposes, and this could see you with significant fines. A Tier 5 visa is what will be needed, and these are (probably unsurprisingly) very difficult to get.

CK

Irrlevant in this case and for your information only one of my grand parent is from South America. I am an EU citizen.

Jessica9_2

Funky_Bold_Ribena wrote: »

How can you be director of two companies (this one and the other ltd company mentioned on the other thread), volunteer and offer 24 hour assistance and look for other jobs at the same time?

If I were the adviser I'd be suspicious as well.

The first company (which is by share) is not trading and will be closed soon : I have to wait until the date for company account in order to make it dormant (I have closed its business bank account in november 2012). I am volunteering through only the second company which is the non profit organisation.

24 Hour assistance will be remove since it seems to create argument and it was most like an activity forcasting/planning in a year rather than a true activity.

CKhalvashi

Funky_Bold_Ribena wrote: »

How can you be director of two companies (this one and the other ltd company mentioned on the other thread), volunteer and offer 24 hour assistance and look for other jobs at the same time?

If I were the adviser I'd be suspicious as well.

Exactly.

Unless everything is dormant, and you can prove that you're not doing any 'sole trader' work on the side, then I'm amazed that the JCP advisor hasn't asked you to provide bank statements, and you'll probably be credit checked, with letters sent to each bank, to confirm before you're paid anything.

Jessica9 wrote: »

Irrlevant in this case and for your information only one of my grand parent is from South America. I am an EU citizen.

Maybe not for you, but it certainly is for your volunteers.

I'm an EU citizen, I'm also a non-EU citizen, but the point is that I can't employ non-EU citizens, or Romanian/Bulgarian/Croatian nationals in the UK, without the correct permits.

I've been checked by the UKBA before now, and we've been found to be compliant (on one occasion, I even took the employee to the embassy to prove a passport was genuine). I suggest that you are very cautious for this reason, especially with regard to what work you're doing.

CK

CKhalvashi

Jessica9 wrote: »

24 Hour assistance will be remove since it seems to create argument.

The Job Centre, however, do need to know about 24 hour assistance, as you're not available for work, and therefore not entitled to JSA.

You're either being dishonest to us, or dishonest to them, it can't be neither, and can possibly be both. We're not arguing with you, we're looking at the fact you're not available for work, and therefore are not entitled to claim.

CK

Jessica9_2

CKhalvashi wrote: »

Exactly.

Unless everything is dormant, and you can prove that you're not doing any 'sole trader' work on the side, then I'm amazed that the JCP advisor hasn't asked you to provide bank statements, and you'll probably be credit checked, with letters sent to each bank, to confirm before you're paid anything.

For the first limted company, this has been checked when I was under ESA (few months ago).

CKhalvashi wrote: »

Maybe not for you, but it certainly is for your volunteers.

I'm an EU citizen, I'm also a non-EU citizen, but the point is that I can't employ non-EU citizens, or Romanian/Bulgarian/Croatian nationals in the UK, without the correct permits.

I've been checked by the UKBA before now, and we've been found to be compliant (on one occasion, I even took the employee to the embassy to prove a passport was genuine). I suggest that you are very cautious for this reason, especially with regard to what work you're doing.
CK

In my case, one of my parents are french and spanish. Myself I am french. Did you mean above that you are 'an EU citizen, AND a non-EU citizen'?