What benefits can my mother claim?

teddysmum

Supply teaching is paid at a higher hourly rate so that work for three full terms, pays the equivalent amount to a year's salary.


This used to be a 'problem' when I did supply, some years ago, as it prevented you from signing on, especially for short breaks.


(I notice that someone has posted something similar, while I broke off to answer the phone).

ERICS_MUM

Could she get some short term part time work over the summer ? Supermarket, office temp etc ? Best wishes to you both, and keep on helping your Mum, it's the right thing to do !!

PlanHappy

I do get that. But she hasn't worked for three full terms. So she hasn't accrued enough holiday pay to cover the summer. In fact if we're being literal about it, any holiday pay she has built up has been more than eaten up by the periods of work not being available throughout the year. (There have also been instances where she has turned down some very short-term offers of work though, so I won't get out my tiny violin just yet.)

The TES thread appears to suggest that JSA would be available, but the application may have to be dealt with carefully.

PlanHappy

Could she get some short term part time work over the summer ? Supermarket, office temp etc ?

I will certainly ask her to look for some. It wouldn't be right to claim out-of-work benefits without making any attempt to actually find work. But I don't necessarily hold out much hope of her getting any.

NeilCr

PlanHappy wrote: »

I do get that. But she hasn't worked for three full terms. So she hasn't accrued enough holiday pay to cover the summer. In fact if we're being literal about it, any holiday pay she has built up has been more than eaten up by the periods of work not being available throughout the year. (There have also been instances where she has turned down some very short-term offers of work though, so I won't get out my tiny violin just yet.)

The TES thread appears to suggest that JSA would be available, but the application may have to be dealt with carefully.

I think that this would suggest that a visit to a CAB or advice centre (as mentioned above) would be a good idea. As you said yourself you haven't got that much knowledge of benefits and there is the potential for this to be quite complicated. In addition, while I understand your mum may not see it this way, it might give her a point of contact if she has any further issues re housing/benefits/debt - especially as you are at a distance

TELLIT01

PlanHappy wrote: »

This is not exactly helpful.

You'll soon learn that there are some here who are far happier being judgemental than helpful. Happily most don't fit that category. Just sift the dross out and work with anything which may be useful.
Regarding claiming JSA or UC - this won't be your mother's decision. If she is living in an area where UC has been rolled out for people in her situation, it will be a UC claim. It is certainly worth investigating further to see if she can claim. From what you have said it seems that she has only had occasional work, rather than being a regular supply teacher. Even if there is an assumption of some monies being put aside from her pay to cover holiday or gaps, it might not be a a level to disqualify her from claiming.

missbiggles1

PlanHappy wrote: »

I will certainly ask her to look for some. It wouldn't be right to claim out-of-work benefits without making any attempt to actually find work. But I don't necessarily hold out much hope of her getting any.

Not only wouldn't it be right, if she wants to claim JSA it wouldn't be possible.

Having read your other thread, do you think your mother's mental health will cope with the stresses of claiming JSA and do you think she'll manage to cope with the practicalities of it? If she's inclined to put letters in drawers and ignore them she's likely to find claiming to be an ultimately unsuccessful challenge.

xylophone

You may be on to a hiding to nothing here.

It is clear that your mother is already in debt to you - are you able to afford to pay her essential expenses over the August/September period?

over_flo

I know a man who was a supply teacher and signed on every year on contribution based jobseekers from July - September
It always seemed a bit dodgy to me ,but he seemed to be within his rights
It may be possible and might be worth investigating.
In his case ,he was a homeowner and his wife worked ,but in your Mum's case she may be entitled to housing benefit too.

jfdi

Get her online on the first day she's not working/being paid to claim UC (I'm sure it'll be that and not JSA if it's rolling out in your area, as single people with no dependants are the first to go on it)
The online claim form should only let her claim the right benefit (UC or JSA) iykwim.

IF she's entitled (they'll work it out, it's their job!) she'll be expected to take on any short term temp work she can find over the summer, of any type eg shop, factory.

Good luck helping her sort out the rest!
Xx