Can you work up to 16 hrs and still claim JSA?

Morata_

Is this correct? Possibly have the option of a part time weekly 7.5hr contract @ a supermarket, would I still be able to claim JSA alongside this?

What happens is one week I do overtime and over 16 hours - lose the JSA?

Wondering how those who claim JSA and then find part time work still claim or lose the benefit?

PasturesNew

As I understand it, you claim JSA and declare your earnings. Up to the amount of JSA you get to keep £5 of your income.

e.g. If JSA were (say) £80 and your job paid £60, you'd get to keep the first £5, keep your wages and get the remaining £20 of JSA. So wages £60, JSA £25.

You can't have your cake and eat it.... else we'd all be doing that wouldn't we.

Morata_

Thanks. No I totally get that! So if I were to work 7.5 (x £8) - £60 is get the other £12 in benefits.

Worrying that’s is a 16 mile round trip to and from the work place so I would actually be worst off due to petrol??

So if I don’t get the overtime, not much point in working the hrs, given 4 will be a Sunday at 6am start!!

Cheers for clarification.

Ineededaname

Low contracts are pretty common in retail. The reality is you will probably get far more hours, especially in busy periods such as now coming up to Christmas.

The jobseekers would likely close if you did work 16 hours+.

Can you make a claim to Universal Credit in your area instead? It's a much better benefit in terms of supporting part time working and irregular hours. They only take 63p off the benefit for every £1 you earn and it won't just closeif you work too many hours. If it does you can just do a reclaim.

Are you claiming any other benefits except JSA? As a UC claim could affect these

Neil_Jones

Having actually done 16mile round trips to and from work (and doing it for the best part of ten years) I will say yes petrol is a concern however in the two cars I had in that time I managed to make a tank of petrol last a month. Usually by doing shopping one day after or before work (as there was a supermarket literally down the road) which helped. So on that basis if you have an economical motor, drive green and have a relatively easy commute, petrol only ever cost me £40 a month. On a Sunday morning your commute will be glorious as the roads will be totally empty and you can probably do it in 15mins.

I appreciate the petrol will be a running concern but bear in mind you're working, that's £60 you've earnt for seven hours work, bearing in mind on JSA you're supposed to do 35hrs to get £73 and jump through their hoops in the process.

The minimum wage to an extent makes the 16hr thing slightly redundant now because to achieve the same take-home pay as JSA you only have to work 9.3hrs a week on minimum wage.

[Deleted User]

When I worked in a supermarket over the 4 years I was there my contract went from seasonal (0), to 16, to 19.5 but all year round I always got 35+ hours and obviously more at busier periods like Christmas and bank holidays

The more you know and are trained the better because you can pick over tune up on other departments.

tomtom256

No you can only work upto 15 hours and 59 minutes per week, once you work 16 hours or more per week, you have to close the claim and claim tax credit or universal credit depending on your circumstances.


https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/eligibility

calcotti

tomtom256 wrote: »

No you can only work upto 15 hours and 59 minutes per week, once you work 16 hours or more per week, you have to close the claim and claim tax credit or universal credit depending on your circumstances.
https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/eligibility

The link says provided you work less than 16 hours/week on average. Therefore if zoO goes over 16 hours due to overtime for the odd week claim can stay open provided average stays below 16.

tomtom256

It also says you may get JSA if the following apply. Not will.


Trust me as soon as you hit 16 hours or more per week they will close the JSA claim down.


You can also check https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Working-hours-benefits-rules/How-are-benefits-affected-by-hours-worked#guide-content

calcotti

They may - but they shouldn’t. The requirement to average hours where they fluctuate is clearly set out in DWP guidance to DMs
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/721763/dmgch20.pdf

This is also explained in the link you provided https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Working-hours-benefits-rules/Calculating-work-hours-Fluctuating-hours-of-work#guide-content

tomtom256

If you want to get into semantics then the problem lies with fact that the contracted hours are 7.5 and are not classed as fluctuating hours i.e. a zero hours contract, as such there are no fluctuating hours to average out.


You need to look at 2 and 4 as number 8 does not count for contracted hours, as these do not fluctuate.


Therefore any hours/overtime worked that take her over 16 hpw will result in the claim being closed.