Starting a Zero Hour Contract while on JSA/HB

Sand87

Hey,

I've started a zero hour contract job but have done no hours yet.

I sign on every weeks for JSA and receive Housing Benefit and council tax reductions.

how on earth does this all work now that I don't know when I'll be working?

The Job Centre guy on the phone said if you work more than 16 hours in a week you phone up and close your claim. Then what? Open your claim again when you do zero hours in a week?

And how does Housing Benefit work?

How does all that work and how do I make sure the right people know what's going on so that I don't get done for trying to steal money from them or something?

Thanks, in scotland by the way

bartelbe

I was in a similar situation, some weeks it would be over 16, some under. Now what I was told is they would calculate my average hours over 2 weeks, then deduct what I earn't, and then you would be paid the rest. With NI being covered, something to think about.

Of course if I went over 16 hours I would have to sign off, then sign on for the other weeks. Which of course would take time to process In the end I decided it was too complicated and simply signed off.

The reality is the system is very rigid and inflexible. It punishes people for doing the right thing and trying to work.

Sand87

Sounds like a total chore.

So do you have to wait until Friday to see if you have worked 0 hours and then tell them and wait for them to pay you for that?

And how about HB/Council Tax reductions?

Does this have anything to do with Universal Credits or is that something different?