JSA: what counts as a holiday?

Vampgirl

Just looking for some guidance on behalf of hubby who is currently claiming contribution-based JSA. Its the first time either of us has claimed anything and to be honest we're a bit lost when it comes to all the rules and regs (there seem to be loads....not all of which make a great deal of sense!).

So, hubby called the job centre to change his sign-on appointment this week because he has an interview and the alternative appointment they gave him is late on Friday afternoon. He asked if they could make it a bit earlier because I'm taking a half day so we can beat the traffic to visit my Mum for the weekend.

Not only wouldn't they change the appointment, but he was also told that he needs to fill in a holiday form for the weekend! Is it really true that we can't even visit relatives at the weekend unless we tell the job centre first?

bloolagoon

I found them hard to deal with during my short time on JSA Cobytibution based. They had my time at school pick up and initially refused to make it earlier or later in the day.

Their argument was to need to be available any time Monday to Friday, I suspect you informed your employers you are leaving early on Friday and taking a holiday, do they expect him to do the same.

It doesn't sound right or logical to me, but they do appear to say you sign your agreement to cover Monday to Friday 9-5.30.

Vampgirl

bloolagoon wrote: »

Their argument was to need to be available any time Monday to Friday, I suspect you informed your employers you are leaving early on Friday and taking a holiday, do they expect him to do the same.

It doesn't sound right or logical to me, but they do appear to say you sign your agreement to cover Monday to Friday 9-5.30.

Yep absolutely no problem with him having to be available for jobseeking during normal working hours. Due to the time of his rescheduled appointment (16:30-17:30) there is no point me taking a half day now so we'll leave after work. But they still say he needs to fill in a holiday form, even though he won't be away during working hours - this is the bit I don't get :huh:

bloolagoon

Vampgirl wrote: »

Yep absolutely no problem with him having to be available for jobseeking during normal working hours. Due to the time of his rescheduled appointment (16:30-17:30) there is no point me taking a half day now so we'll leave after work. But they still say he needs to fill in a holiday form, even though he won't be away during working hours - this is the bit I don't get :huh:

It appears wrong if he is attending the interview, is the weekend break in the UK?

HappyMJ

Vampgirl wrote: »

Just looking for some guidance on behalf of hubby who is currently claiming contribution-based JSA. Its the first time either of us has claimed anything and to be honest we're a bit lost when it comes to all the rules and regs (there seem to be loads....not all of which make a great deal of sense!).

So, hubby called the job centre to change his sign-on appointment this week because he has an interview and the alternative appointment they gave him is late on Friday afternoon. He asked if they could make it a bit earlier because I'm taking a half day so we can beat the traffic to visit my Mum for the weekend.

Not only wouldn't they change the appointment, but he was also told that he needs to fill in a holiday form for the weekend! Is it really true that we can't even visit relatives at the weekend unless we tell the job centre first?

You can have as many trips away from home as you want as long as you are looking for work and at home so you can sign-on on the appropriate days. So whilst it is true that you are supposed to fill in a holiday form for every single day you are going away and "not" looking for work you can just look for work when you out of town. Buy the local paper and read notice boards wherever you are and apply for something whilst away. Or take a computer or internet enabled phone and spend a few hours browsing and applying for jobs back home....and leave the phone turned on so you are contactable.

This Friday just sign on when they want and join the traffic afterwards. If you are driving let him browse the internet on his phone whilst you are doing the driving....then he is looking for work which enables him to paid his "job seekers" allowance to which he is entitled. How many hours a week does he dedicate to looking for work? He is supposed to be spending an equivalent amount of time looking as he would spend working if he had a job....i.e 30 plus hours.

Vampgirl

bloolagoon wrote: »

It appears wrong if he is attending the interview, is the weekend break in the UK?

Yep - we're just going to visit my Mum, as she lives 2 hours away from us we're staying over Friday and Saturday night. Its not what I'd call a "holiday"

I suppose I'm a bit frustrated by it all...I know he hates claiming JSA and attending the job centre: most of the staff there make him feel totally worthless. This is the first time he's been unemployed since he was 16 and he's applying for as many suitable jobs as he can - he's even prepared to take a a pay cut in excess of 25% just to get a job (but then the recruiters tell him he's over-qualified). We could cope without the actual JSA payments, but the NI contributions are important (a few more years needed).

It all seems to be more about making sure he jumps through the right hoops rather than actually helping him to find a job

Vampgirl

HappyMJ wrote: »

You can have as many trips away from home as you want as long as you are looking for work and at home so you can sign-on on the appropriate days. So whilst it is true that you are supposed to fill in a holiday form for every single day you are going away and "not" looking for work you can just look for work when you out of town. Buy the local paper and read notice boards wherever you are and apply for something whilst away. Or take a computer or internet enabled phone and spend a few hours browsing and applying for jobs back home....and leave the phone turned on so you are contactable.

He already explained that that he will have internet access at my Mum's (and his phone is never switched off) so being physically out of the house doesn't prevent him looking for work. But according to the woman he spoke to, it makes no difference.

The jobs he's qualified for do not appear on notice boards or local papers - they tend to advertised via recruitment agencies online or via LinkedIn so all this emphasis on his physical location makes even less sense.

We both come from an IT/Communications background so are used to being able to work wherever we are in the world - with a suitable device and internet access there is no reason why jobseeking should be any different. Except in the eyes of the job centre of course

HappyMJ

Vampgirl wrote: »

He already explained that that he will have internet access at my Mum's (and his phone is never switched off) so being physically out of the house doesn't prevent him looking for work. But according to the woman he spoke to, it makes no difference.

The jobs he's qualified for do not appear on notice boards or local papers - they tend to advertised via recruitment agencies online or via LinkedIn so all this emphasis on his physical location makes even less sense.

We both come from an IT/Communications background so are used to being able to work wherever we are in the world - with a suitable device and internet access there is no reason why jobseeking should be any different. Except in the eyes of the job centre of course

LOL...I work in IT too. The jobcentre are no help at all...they are just there to make sure you've looked for work and sign the bit of paper every two weeks....and I agree about working pretty much anywhere. I've worked in every large city in the UK and many other towns. Just be home whenever they need you to sign or attend appointments. The hassle caused by not signing on or missing appointments is far too high and that it just isn't worth it. If an interview is offered at the same time you are supposed to be signing on I've found it better to rearrange the interview rather than rearrange the signing on time....which I know really is not the way to go about getting a job.

bloolagoon

Ask to speak to a manager tomorrow as I don't think what he has been told us correct.

Or say you have cancelled the break they aren't working so cannot affect them at all!

Vampgirl

HappyMJ wrote: »

If an interview is offered at the same time you are supposed to be signing on I've found it better to rearrange the interview rather than rearrange the signing on time....which I know really is not the way to go about getting a job.

Maybe that's why then....this is the 4th appointment he's had to re-schedule due to an interview. But I'm not sure I'll be able to convince him to prioritise the job centre over an interview

Its just bad timing that a) the interview clashes with his normal appointment and that b) we have to visit my Mum this weekend. Never mind, we'll find a workaround, and on the bright side.....its an interview, for a global organisation, in his area of experience, at a similar salary to his previous role :beer:

Dunroamin

Not sure whether this is relevant but, when I used to work part time, I was paid Unemployment Benefit for the days that I wasn't working and the daily rate was based on a 6 day week, to include Saturday. Obviously this was a long time ago and may have changed but it might explain your husband's situation.