Signing off jsa/temporary work

james-emm

Apologies if this has been posted before (I looked but couldn't find a recent thread).

I started a week's temporary work yesterday (Monday) which will finish on Friday. Last Friday (8th) I contacted my local job centre to notify them of this. The lady on the phone said she would update my file and then gave me another number to ring, an 0345 number. I've twice tried to contact this number but been on hold for over half an hour each time and they're closed by the time I get home from work.

Is it essential that I contact this number? also, what's the process for singing back on after the temporary position has finished? Do I have another 'interview' with the job centre, and how long is it usually until my claim is processed and receive payment again?

Thanks.

*Sorry if this is posted in the wrong forum, please move if necessary*

Guest101

Im confused, you said you rang last Friday, but they were closed by the time you finished work? But you weren't meant to be working then?

james-emm

Guest101 wrote: »

Im confused, you said you rang last Friday, but they were closed by the time you finished work? But you weren't meant to be working then?

I started work yesterday. Last Friday, before I started work, I rang my local job centre, who gave me the 0345 number to ring. I rang that number on Friday afternoon (again, whilst not working), but couldn't get through. The number is only contactable between 8:00 - 18:00, so by the time I get home there is no one there to speak to. I could ring on my mobile on my lunch hour, but as I am on pay as you go I am wary of the cost of the call.

Guest101

james-emm wrote: »

I started work yesterday. Last Friday, before I started work, I rang my local job centre, who gave me the 0345 number to ring. I rang that number on Friday afternoon (again, whilst not working), but couldn't get through. The number is only contactable between 8:00 - 18:00, so by the time I get home there is no one there to speak to. I could ring on my mobile on my lunch hour, but as I am on pay as you go I am wary of the cost of the call.

Ah I see


To be honest, accepting temporary work isn't a good idea in such cases - mainly because the JSA wont pay the first 3 (I think it's 3, or is it longer) days. So what you make in working you lose out on.


As long as your claim was ended, you don't need to tell anyone anything, but you will now need to make a new claim.

james-emm

Guest101 wrote: »

Ah I see


To be honest, accepting temporary work isn't a good idea in such cases - mainly because the JSA wont pay the first 3 (I think it's 3, or is it longer) days. So what you make in working you lose out on.


As long as your claim was ended, you don't need to tell anyone anything, but you will now need to make a new claim.

I need the work experience for my CV as much as anything, that's the main reason why I took the job. The lady who I spoke to at the job centre said I did still need to contact the other number, I just wondered if it was a legal requirement to do so? I'll be signing on next week in any case, so I will have to speak to someone then anyway.

Guest101

You'll be fine. If you receive payment for this week, don't spend it and let them know

james-emm

Guest101 wrote: »

You'll be fine. If you receive payment for this week, don't spend it and let them know

I got paid last Friday (8th) so I would not have been due another payment until a week on Friday (22nd). As I say, I'll be starting a new claim next Monday so will speak to someone then. Thanks for your advice in the meantime, much appreciated.

dancingfairy

I think you have to sign on again but can do a rapid reclaim which I think means you don't have to wait as long and are back up and running quicker.
Is there a number in your job centre booklet? Or just phone the general number for making a claim and ask to do a rapid reclaim. If the number is an expensive one you could Google sayno to 0870 or an alternative number for x....
Unfortunately my experience a few years ago was that the job centre really want set up for you to do temp work and it messed up their calculations as to how much you were earning. Sadly it meant that short term temping was not really a sensible option. It caused so much hassle
If you are temping see if the agencies have any long term contracts say temp to perm or 3 months or something.
Also be sure to keep very careful records of how many hours you work and when and where as you will need it for benefits but also tax purposes.
Df

dancingfairy

This link tells you about a rapid reclaim and how it works :
https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/how-to-claim

Ian011

DWP changed their premium rate 0845 lines over to cheaper 0345 numbers on 17 March 2014.

Calls to 03 numbers are inclusive from landlines and mobiles, else charged at 'geographic rate' - the same as calls to 01 and 02 numbers.

fewgroats

Any temporary work, any freelancing work is worth it. It's not all about money. It's also about your state of mind. And being unemployed damages your state of mind.

Good luck, James.