Boosting my income whilst unemployed

mlarmour

So, this is my first post and I hope it makes sense.

I am currently unemployed, I have just graduated from university with a 2:2 in Journalism and English. At the moment I am applying for any job I can find. Ideally I would like a part time job because I have a chronic illness that makes working full time very difficult and I would like to build myself up to working full time.

As I trained as a journalist, I have made a list of publications that I think are suitable for my writing style and the subjects that I write about. The idea is that I will contact them and pitch stories that I will hopefully write for a fee. However as I wasn't taught how to pitch at university, I am left trying to learn how to do it off the internet.
I have contacted some press agencies to sell a story about my illness, partly to raise awareness of it and partly to earn myself some money as I am not ashamed about my illness and it would be nice if it made me some money instead of costing my money having to buy things to make my life easier.

I am lucky in that I don't have many expenses. My mum charges me £10 a week board (which if I'm honest I'm not happy about because my brother lived at home rent free when unemployed.) and then I have my £10 a month phone contract and netflix at £6ish which I am going to cancel as I watch most things for free online. However I would like to build on the savings I already have in my ISA (my nanna insisted that I turned the bank account she set up for me into as ISA when I turned 18, I have only just been allowed to keep the ISA and I'm now 23 but she was worried I'd spend it drinking at uni) I'd like to move out eventually and I would feel more comfortable moving out if I had savings.

I am applying for PIP - waiting for the forms to arrive
I have signed up to swagbucks, qmee, people per hour as well.

surfsister

you're up early! good luck my daughter just graduated and is in similar position. I don't know about journalism sadly but she has signed up with lots of agencies and found casual work as well as gumtree!! also sign on with DWP to claim jobseekers asap. good luck!

ms_night_ryder

Are you claiming benefits? If so there is a limit you can earn, if not how do you make money so far?

mlarmour

I hadn't been asleep yet. I fell asleep at 8 - its to do with my health condition, I sometimes can't sleep.
I am claiming JSA at the moment and I am hoping to claim PIP once I get the forms. JSA is how I get all of my money at the moment

ms_night_ryder

I think your only allowed to claim £5 a week as extra income on jsa, I could be wrong though.

System

ms_night_ryder is right, I believe you can only earn £5 a week when on any means tested benefit.

I'm not sure if PIP is means tested but you'll need to declare any money you make to the taxman, and pay tax/National Insurance as applicable.

Good luck with online work, there are lots of small pay, part time opportunities on this forum that will help you. Examples including surveys, paid articles, telephone work, reviews, paid to click websites etc.

Probably best to have a browse around and you'll find what works best for you.

Best of luck with PIP, I've got health problems but decided to go self employed instead of going for PIP because they are bar stewards when it comes to certain health conditions.

suse*

PIP isn't means tested but it does take 6 months or more currently to find out if you can be awarded anything or not so I'm not sure that will help you much right now.

Have you looked at sites like fiver or elance etc looking at writing jobs? I don't think it is amazing money but it is better than nothing.

suse*

It is worth reading up on access to work too https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work/overview depending if your condition means you need any adaptations eg help with transport or computer setup etc. I assume the job centre might be able to give you more info if you ask about it.