JSA rules

dou_jyr

Please can anyone expand on this? It's an excerpt from the link that follows it. I've tried asking my local CAB without success.

"If you are a worker who has been dismissed from a job where you were working less than 16 hours a week, the rules are different."

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/work-comes-to-an-end/dismissal-and-benefits/

merlin68

Maybe its because if you work less than 16 hrs, you can carry on signing on.

dou_jyr

Maybe. But will you still risk a sanction?

dou_jyr

no one?

10pence

LINK

3. Eligibility

To get Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) you must:

• be 18 or over but below State Pension age - there are some exceptions if you’re 16 or 17
• not be in full-time education
• be in England, Scotland or Wales
• be available for work
• be actively seeking work
• work on average less than 16 hours per week

If I recall correctly, it's because to could still claim JSA and work under 16rs so long as earnings weren't above the JSA threshold.

Robbie64

dou_jyr wrote: »

no one?

As far as I am aware you can't be sanctioned for giving up work (whether voluntary or otherwise eg if dismissed) if the job is for less than 24 (not just 16) hours a week.

If the JobCentre is saying otherwise, make a complaint or ask for a reconsideration of any decision they have made.

dou_jyr

Robbie64 wrote: »

As far as I am aware you can't be sanctioned for giving up work (whether voluntary or otherwise eg if dismissed) if the job is for less than 24 (not just 16) hours a week.

If the JobCentre is saying otherwise, make a complaint or ask for a reconsideration of any decision they have made.

if true, that's an interesting little nugget

Robbie64

dou_jyr wrote: »

if true, that's an interesting little nugget

I've tried to find out if indeed it is true but all I can find is that you can't be sanctioned for refusing to take work that is less than 24 hours per week so perhaps that is what I was thinking of.

That said, if you are working under 16 hours a week and then give up this employment you can't be classed as making yourself voluntarily unemployed as you could still have qualified for JSA, depending on your circumstances.

dou_jyr

Well I was dismissed, but there were no questions asked by the Job Centre about it and payments resumed. So it looks like no sanctions in this case. Interesting to know.

Another question - I have taken a job but with misgivings as it's a manual job and 55 hours a week. I'm not sure I can physically hack it, but will give it a go. But if I leave voluntarily because it's just too much do you think I might get sanctioned? Or will the DM consider it reasonable?