Should I get JSA?

pablakeman

Hello,

Firstly, I am not asking for a moral answer! I am hard up for money due to relocation costs so am looking for an objective answer ie is it possible.

I have just graduated from Nottingham University and I have a graduate scheme lined up. This starts on September 1st so for the next two months I am unemployed. Can I claim JSA? Or any other benefit perhaps?

I lived in Wales, studied in Nottingham and the job is in Edinburgh (I have already moved there) so there are costs in setting up, such as rent (not paid until end of September), deposit etc... so I am looking for as much financial assistance as possible.

Cheers everyone!

JamesWoods

You can get JSA. But you will need to ''look for work'' anyway and attend signing on meetings every 2 weeks.
They will ask you to fill in your job search book ES4 regardless.

You should say to them that you have something lined up but you still want to look for work in case your current job offer falls through.

Remember, you can only claim JSA if you are looking for work.

theoretica

To get JSA you would need to look for work - and Edinburgh has a festival which may help find a short term job. I know of people commuting to Glasgow for temporary Commonwealth Games jobs too.

Gaz83

I was in the same situation as you a few years ago, finished Uni in May and had my position lined up for an August start. I went into the JCP not to claim JSA but for some help in finding some seasonal work. Was pretty much told that I was too over-qualified for everything and the best thing they could do was put in a claim for JSA for me.

I ended up not getting anything because I hadn't paid enough NI contributions (had spent the last few years as a student) and it messed up my first month's wages due to the JCP not giving me a form to give to my new employer.

Sharon87

Gaz83 wrote: »

I was in the same situation as you a few years ago, finished Uni in May and had my position lined up for an August start. I went into the JCP not to claim JSA but for some help in finding some seasonal work. Was pretty much told that I was too over-qualified for everything and the best thing they could do was put in a claim for JSA for me.

I ended up not getting anything because I hadn't paid enough NI contributions (had spent the last few years as a student) and it messed up my first month's wages due to the JCP not giving me a form to give to my new employer.

You should have got income based JSA if you weren't qualified for contributions based.

You can claim JSA when you are no longer classed as a student, for me that was end of June I think (when my council tax exemption form ran till) as your student loan is meant to cover you until then.

You will be able to claim JSA and housing benefit.

pablakeman

Thanks for the response! I am looking for a job to tide me over until then if possible, so I will nip to a local JCP today to discuss options.

Sncjw

I thought you couldn't apply for jsa untill after a certain time after finishing education, well that's what happend to my cousin. He applied and they said he has to wait till September when he goes back to college to finish of modules,

Horseunderwater

Op has finished Uni - so that should not be an issue.

tomtontom

Sncjw wrote: »

I thought you couldn't apply for jsa untill after a certain time after finishing education, well that's what happend to my cousin. He applied and they said he has to wait till September when he goes back to college to finish of modules,

You can apply at the end of your final term, which in the OP's case was a week ago. You cannot apply if you are a continuing student (unless you are a parent).