Avoid closing JSA?

asm3k

Technically I am only unavailable 6-7 days but I was told I will have to close my claim because of the gap 10th-3rd and open a new claim again meaning I will miss about 3 of benefits.

I had my sign on date today - 9th, my next appointment is supposed to be on the 23rd which I planned to go with my family to visit my sister in another city on her birthday and stay the night but won't be back till after the Job Centre is closed on the 24th. One of my relatives passed away and I am going abroad for the funeral on the 27th - 31st meaning the next time I can visit the Job Centre is Nov 3rd.

I think the only way to keep my claim open is to not attend my sisters birthday on the 23rd? At my old job centre I would be allowed a slot to sign on a different day such as the 22nd and 3rd, allowing me to do everything as planned.

jobseeking_help

sorry, but if you're going abroad you will have to close your claim anyway.

Kitty777

jobseeking_help wrote: »

sorry, but if you're going abroad you will have to close your claim anyway.

I believe the above is correct, because while you are abroad you will not be actively looking for work which you need to be in order to receive job seekers allowance.

The best thing to do is to contact/make an appointment with an adviser and tell them your situation and possibly make an appointment for the day after you come back. That way you they are up to date and it can be a quicker process when you come back.

In relation to your next appointment, could you not see if it could be rearranged to the day before? Or early in the morning before you go to see your sister?

[Deleted User]

I suppose the question has to be is the relatives funeral worth the hassle?
sorry to be so blunt

asm3k

jobseeking_help wrote: »

sorry, but if you're going abroad you will have to close your claim anyway.

No you can go abroad for 2 weeks... the problem is because of the way the appointments are placed means its more even though I am around.

Kitty777 wrote: »

I believe the above is correct, because while you are abroad you will not be actively looking for work which you need to be in order to receive job seekers allowance.

The best thing to do is to contact/make an appointment with an adviser and tell them your situation and possibly make an appointment for the day after you come back. That way you they are up to date and it can be a quicker process when you come back.

In relation to your next appointment, could you not see if it could be rearranged to the day before? Or early in the morning before you go to see your sister?

I have explained but at this job centre but they do not allow me to make appointments on other days unlike my previous one job centre which was flexible. I noticed my new one is very busy so it might be because of this.

woodbine wrote: »

I suppose the question has to be is the relatives funeral worth the hassle?
sorry to be so blunt

We are pretty close plus the flight etc is all booked so its not really an option. Going abroad is definitely allowed the only problem is the gap between my appointments of over 2 weeks.


I guess there is nothing I can do but close it which seems pretty silly to me, I'm sure it would us hassle with the paper work if they had some pause option.

Caz3121

asm3k wrote: »

No you can go abroad for 2 weeks... the problem is because of the way the appointments are placed means its more even though I am around.

The two weeks "holiday" per year where JSA is unaffected refers to holidays in the UK
You will need to sign off and do a rapid reclaim when out of the UK
Basically you will need to complete a holiday form for the 23rd/24th then sign off from the 27th and do a rapid reclaim when you return

sammyjammy

As has been said you are not allowed to go abroad and keep your claim open, you cannot be available for work. You previous jobcentre would not have let you sign on the 22nd if your signing day was the 23rd unless they are complicit in fraud.

Druagh

asm3k wrote: »

No you can go abroad for 2 weeks...

Continuing to claim JSA whilst abroad is deemed as Benefit Fraud, don't do it! As you imply that you have already told the JC that you will be abroad, they will look at your claim very closely if you try to pretend otherwise.

http://campaigns.dwp.gov.uk/campaigns/benefit-thieves/abroad.asp

Shiloe

asm3k wrote: »

No you can go abroad for 2 weeks... the problem is because of the way the appointments are placed means its more even though I am around.

No your wrong you cannot go abroad and continue a JSA claim

bspm

Originally Posted by asm3k
No you can go abroad for 2 weeks... the problem is because of the way the appointments are placed means its more even though I am around.


I think what this poster means is that they have gone abroad before whilst signing on but that it was probably in the gap of the two week signing on period.

Makes me mad

asm3k

Ok my apologies, I was wrong, anyone else wondering, those on JSA can not go abroad.

And no I have not been abroad before.