RE: My OBLIGATION'S for JSA as a single parent - please help me

chinesedeli

Hi there,

I have a child that is 6 years old and I have recently gone on to JSA after being on ESA for a year (due to having major surgery and complication's). Anyway, I am a single parent and took myself off of ESA before I was due to attend a medical because I feel that I am well enough and am enthusiastic about starting my journey for looking for work.

I am new to this and I would really like some advice as to what I am "officially" expected to do each week and how many hours I am expected to work.

I was given my agreement at my JSA interview last week and it says that I need to do 19 thing's a week in order to get paid the allowance and that the most hours that I can work each week is 25.

I am getting really stressed out about this as I have heard that some single mothers only have to do maybe 6 thing's a week and also are expected to do a 16 hour a week job. I would really, really appreciate it if someone could properly advise me of what it is that I am expected to do as I really do not get much advice from the job center. I would really like to have this information to hand for when I attend my first signing.

I would love to get a 16 hour a week job, but I wouldn't like to have to get a 25 hour a week job if I do not have to, if you know what I mean? It does state on my agreement that I will lose my JSA if I am not available for work for the hours stated in this agreement - so if they ask me to do a 25 hour a week job I will have to do it??? I am so confused, please help me x

marliepanda

I don't know what you mean.

What's wrong with a 25 hour job? You can fit that into school/after school club hours.

How can you be enthusiastic about finding a job when you want to only do 6 things a week 19 isn't that much.

chinesedeli

There is nothing wrong with doing a 25 hour a week job. I wanted to know if I have to do this or if I can look for a 16 hour a week job. I am new to JSA and if it is possible for me to look for a 16 hr job then I would like to try and look for that and seeing if there are any out there - before increasing my hours.

I just want to know what are the legal requirements of me.

As I said before, I am NEW to this and I AM enthusiastic about finding work because I have been ill for the last year and it would not only increase my confidence but also help me to financially provide for my daughter and to feel proud about working.

BigAunty

I can't comment on JSA requirements for lone parents but the key figure of 16 hours is usually mentioned with regard to the minimum number of hours a lone parent is required to work in order to be eligible for working tax credits. Many lone parents seek 16 hour a week jobs for this reason, as they qualify for WTC and it doesn't tend to impact their housing benefit and council tax discount on low wages as longer jobs, plus they make savings when it comes to child care costs and travel to work, for example.

EDIT - to other posters for answer, can't a lone parent sign completely off JSA when they find a 16 hour job with no other kind of mandatory conditionality attached to this?

chinesedeli

Thank you Big Aunty, any help with regards to this is greatly appreciated x

When_the_going_gets_tough

Big Aunty is correct, once you have a 16 hour job you have to sign off JSA and you will be able as a single parent to claim WTC. However I do not think that this prevents the Job Centre from expecting you to apply for jobs up to 25 hours.

iammumtoone

Hi

I am a single parent claiming JSA

The rules are

You can sign off if you find a job over 16 hours and claim WTC
You are allowed to limit your availability to the times your child is at school (not including school holidays you must be able to work those)
Travel time is not included in above so if your child starts school at 9 you must be able to work at 9, meaning you will need childcare for the time it takes to travel to work (up to 90 mins via public transport I believe) same with after school.

In reality you will find it is very difficult to find a job within these hours, my job search extends further than this. I apply for anything up to 4 days per week.

It can be difficult at times, this week I have an appointment to be at the JC 9.30 I drop my son off at 9 it will be a rush to make it, I am just praying there are no hold ups otherwise I will be late and be sanctioned. I tried to explain this but they weren't interested as my agreement states I am available from 9, when I tried to explain that time would involve childcare which I can't afford they weren't interested.

You are also expected to look for work when your child is off school. This is what I find the most difficult. It is fine when he is at school but job searching and applying is not very easy when you need to concentrate and there is a child needing your attention nearly 24/7!

gay_guy

Well I have heard it all now, Op you need to look for any Job as you can't be fussy.

I am sure you can work around your childcare as that is no excuse to not look for work, I do jobseeking everyday and also apply for Jobs as if I don't then I will get sanctioned as its that simple and I apply for any Jobs even around 30 to 40 miles from me as not much Jobs where I am.

But what is wrong with a 25 hour Job? Nothing so stop making such excuses and do some Jobseeking, I am not been mean op. I am just stating the facts.

I even had a interview this morning as it shows I 100% want a Job.

Oh by the way it doesn't matter if your new to Jobseekers, to get Jobseekers Allowance you need to be active looking for work, the clue is in the title.

iammumtoone

gay_guy wrote: »

Well I have heard it all now, Op you need to look for any Job as you can't be fussy.

I am sure you can work around your childcare as that is no excuse to not look for work, I do jobseeking everyday and also apply for Jobs as if I don't then I will get sanctioned as its that simple and I apply for any Jobs even around 30 to 40 miles from me as not much Jobs where I am.

But what is wrong with a 25 hour Job? Nothing so stop making such excuses and do some Jobseeking, I am not been mean op. I am just stating the facts.

I even had a interview this morning as it shows I 100% want a Job.

Oh by the way it doesn't matter if your new to Jobseekers, to get Jobseekers Allowance you need to be active looking for work, the clue is in the title.

That is slightly unfair to the OP. They didn't say they didn't want to work! I believe the majority of job seekers do want to work, I want to work and apply for everything possible even if I am not 100% qualified or have experience of it. However I will not lie some of the positions I apply for, I want/would like more than others, if any job seekers tell you otherwise I would not believe them. That is not to say I wouldn't take any job, I will, if I get position I am not so keen on I will be pleased and just keep looking to find one that I would prefer. Once I am in work I am sure it will be easier for to find another job.

Confuseddot

By signing the jsa you are agreeing to abide by what it says inside if you think it is too much then you need to speak to the advisor and get it sorted.

FBaby

The bottom line is if you are only looking at jobs that offer 16 hours and no more no less, you are likely to very much restrict what you can do, hence possibly being on JSA for quite some time. The job centre doesn't want that (and rightly so), hence they expect you to look for and apply for anything up to 25 hours, which is totally reasonable. If you find a job that offers 25 hours and have to take it, nothing will stop you for then looking for a job with fewer hours, but at least you will have started supporting yourself.

Personally, I think you are seriously limiting yourself by only looking at 16 hours jobs. Yes, it is nice to have time for yourself and your child (don't we all wish we had more time for the same amount of money or just about), but you have to consider that you might get a 16 hours job that is much more demanding and not so enjoyable than a 25 hours job where you might feel more valued, enjoy the role better, and gain better experience so that one day, when you will be expected to work full-time, you will have a better chance to get a better paid and better quality job than you just stay in a 16 hours job just so that you can claim tax credits.

I personally would much prefer to work 25 hours in a friendly office as say a receptionist, than working 16 hours in a factory, on my feet all day, treated like I'm not worth a penny.