What benefits can my mother claim?

PlanHappy

"If you are employed by a school on its payroll for a fixed term, they can only employ you from 1 Sept - 31 Dec, 1 Jan to 30 Apr and 1 May to 31 August, so only then will you get holiday pay."

Is your mother contracted to the College on this basis?

I would hope that my mother would have at least got her facts straight about whether she's going to be paid over the summer or not - but given recent events, I'm not taking anything for granted! I will find out. But I think she might have this job through an agency at the moment, which would mean that they can stop paying her when term ends.

I'm amazed that, under the circumstances, 'Mum' can cope with teaching,as the pressure has certainly increased in recent years, making even the most stoical glad to retire early.

Retiring early is out of the question, of course, given her finances. She didn't start teaching until her mid-thirties, and she's under 55 now in any case. But she has occasionally talked about getting out of teaching - becoming an animal physiotherapist was on her mind at one point (her degree is in biology). However, I think she's rediscovered her love of teaching since starting at the college, as she was previously doing secondary, where a lot of the kids are much less engaged. Personally I'm glad that she's stuck with this career path because she really needs a good pension.

I will be looking at teaching-related (and non-teaching related) jobs that she can do in the summer. She's used to her holidays now, and she helps my sister out with the kids in summer holidays too, so it'll be a bit of a struggle to convince her that she really should try to work. But she'll have to suck it up - neither I nor the public purse should have to bankroll her unless she is genuinely unable to secure an income for those few weeks.

pmlindyloo

To be honest I don't think anyone can say for definite whether she will be entitled to JSA/UC or not during the summer holidays.

Each case will be based on individual circumstances. it looks like it will depend on what kind of contract she has been on with the agency/what she has been paid/and the contract she starts in September.

As you can see from the various replies it won't be straightforward!

This shouldn't stop her from putting in a claim.

So it is probably best if she saves as much as she can from now to when she stops work. If she can find some work during the summer then all well and good but not that easy to do. Perhaps a student at college may need some extra coaching during the holidays?

PlanHappy

That is pretty much a perfect summary of the situation, by the looks of it. But at least I understand what benefits are out there now, so I can take it forward from here.

Thanks to everyone for the help and info, including issues specific to supply teaching.

I will post an update further down the line when we have things sorted.

MoaningMyrtle

Sorry can't help with benefit scenario, how about tutoring/paid childminding/dog walking/having a foreign student to stay? to earn some money over the holidays?

poppasmurf_bewdley

ERICS_MUM wrote: »

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 !!

Couldn't agree more.

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.

Why not? Is she infirm?

MoaningMyrtle wrote: »

Sorry can't help with benefit scenario, how about tutoring/paid childminding/dog walking/having a foreign student to stay? to earn some money over the holidays?

Quite right. I live in a rural setting and there are plenty of jobs like this going. Even in towns and cities, opportunities abound.