Benefits for "normal" people

When_the_going_gets_tough

It sounds as if the whole family will be in difficulties. If her husband is deemed by the jobcentre to have caused the loss of his job he will be sanctioned for a period of up to 6 months. After I think 13 weeks he can claim mortgage interest support for their mortgage, but whether this is paid if he is sanctioned I don't know. If they were both unemployed they would need to make a joint claim, unless I suppose if one of them can claim CJSA. There are a lot of unknowns here and someone more knowledgable than me will hopefully come along. Just dealing with the friend it depends whether she has enough NI contributions in her own right to claim CJSA, if she has to claim IJSA then her husbands income will be taken into account.

StormyWeather_2

CWSmith wrote: »

They have been friends for years, and we know they have debts and she would struggle with any other job. And yes, this is could well be our fault for letting her get away with so much for so long.

I don't want to see them destitute, on the other hand I do want to tell her to "get real" as far as benefits are concerned.

If you compare basic benefits to 16 hours of bar work, then I think she is literally working for nothing. She's probably not on much higher than NMW. JSA for a couple would be more.

But HB won't pay the mortgage. They can apply to get the interest paid.

tinkledom

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

AFAIK, if she is under retirement age and physically fit, she will be expected to look for, and take, any suitable job up to 40 hours a week and up to 1.5 hours travelling distance. She can be sanctioned for not looking hard enough or for refusing a suitable (by Jobcentre standards) job.

Obviously it depends where you live. But living in Bristol for example you would be expected to look for work as far as Swansea, Slough, Birmingham and Exeter. All are within a normal 90 min drive as per the RAC/AA.

StormyWeather_2

sh1305 wrote: »

She's wrong. If she's not qualified, she can't be forced to take a job which requires that qualification. But she can't refuse a job without good reason. Doing so will risk a sanction.

Do you know if people without dependents can refuse evening work?

tinkledom wrote: »

Obviously it depends where you live. But living in Bristol for example you would be expected to look for work as far as Swansea, Slough, Birmingham and Exeter. All are within a normal 90 min drive as per the RAC/AA.

8 hours work plus up to 3 hours travel, that's a long day. What are the rules if you don't drive? Do you still have to look in those towns, no matter how long public transport takes?

StormyWeather_2

CWSmith wrote: »

I don't want to see them destitute, on the other hand I do want to tell her to "get real" as far as benefits are concerned.

If she keeps this job, they will still be on benefits. TBH, 16 hours a week is a rubbish situation to be in. They can't get WTC, they'll be able to keep £5 on top of JSA. Who signs will still be obliged to go to the job centre and meet the job search requirements. It's an ok job to have as a second income, but not as the main one.

Indie_Kid

StormyWeather wrote: »

Do you know if people without dependents can refuse evening work?

Probably depends why and what you've written on your job seekers agreement.

tng86

With regards to the 90 minutes thing, I was told that was the 'rule' whether you had a car or not but obviously 90 minutes in a car would get you further than 90 minutes on a bus. I don't think it matters, in that case, whether you have a car or have to rely on public transport.

I think this has already been mentioned but, wouldn't your friend also be at risk at sanction for resigning from her position when you move on?

ohreally

jacques_chirac wrote: »

Out of interest, what type of people do you class as "not normal"?

Other people.

marybelle01

Why do you need to convince her of anything? You are describing three healthy adults, capable of working, who don't want to work and are content of live off the backs of other people. Personally I don't know if they would be better off, but I sincerely hope they won't be. Past that, I really couldn't care what the job centre does with them. if they don't like it they could do what others have to do - get a job.

duchy

StormyWeather wrote: »

Do you know if people without dependents can refuse evening work?



8 hours work plus up to 3 hours travel, that's a long day. What are the rules if you don't drive? Do you still have to look in those towns, no matter how long public transport takes?

If she currently works evenings and has no children at home ....on what basis would you think she should be excused applying for jobs in the evening ?

The criteria is up to 90 minutes travelling time ....so if she has daily access to a car (eg can drive and husband isn't using it for work-which obviously he isn't) then the required distance would be greater than someone who couldn't drive so was reliant on public transport