New style JSA- Are you still expected to be looking for work during the virus?

ARainyDay

A week ago I applied for new style JSA as the fixed term contract I was on ended and my old employer is not able to furlough me. I am still waiting for a phone call appointment, but in the meantime since making the claim I have been looking for jobs, working on my cv etc. However, given the current situation my job search has now dried up. I've read that claimants do not need to attend the job centre for appointments for 3 months, but I can't find any information specifying whether they are still expected to be actively looking for and recording their attempts to find work. I indeed on keeping up my jobsearch for suitable work, but don't want to be pointlessly applying to unsuitable jobs just in order to reach the 35 hour work search requirement if there is no longer a need to be carrying out this work in order to get the benefit. Can any new or existing claimants shed any light on what they are currently being required to do to receive the benefit? Thanks

Comms69

How long were you on FTC?

I appreciate it's not your question, but it is important

epm-84

You can do other things like perfect you CV and practice interview skills.

If you're newly out-of-work you should probably be putting in speculative applications to companies who may recruit someone with your skills in the coming weeks and months, which can involve time taken to find suitable companies and research them.

ARainyDay

Thanks. The FTC was for 18 months.
I'm working on my cv, reaching out to companies on LinkedIn etc, updating my portfolio and doing all that I reasonably can to put me in the best position for obtaining employment. I'll continue to keep doing this but what I don't want to be doing is wasting my time just making up the 35 hours of job searching when it's not a requirement at the moment and I can use the time to be getting ontop of personal admin, learning a language etc. 

Comms69

That's a shame, a FTC of 2 years or longer attracts redundancy rules and payments.

ARainyDay

Yes, sadly I was aware of that, exactly why a lot of FTCs tend to be less than or just under 24 months

Comms69

ARainyDay said:

Yes, sadly I was aware of that, exactly why a lot of FTCs tend to be less than or just under 24 months

NHS had me on one for 4 years - the redundancy pay was quite nice at the end of that; HR had no idea what i was talking about..

calcotti

The answer to OP's actual question is that all work search requirements are currently suspended for a 3 month period commencing on the 30th March.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/371/made
the Social Security (Coronavirus) (Further Measures) Regulations 2020

Universal credit and new style JSA – work-related requirements
6.—(1) As a consequence of the outbreak of coronavirus disease, where a person has an award of new style JSA or an award of universal credit—
(a) the Secretary of State must not impose a work search requirement(19) on that person;
(b) a work search requirement previously applying to such a person ceases to have effect from the date on which these Regulations come into force; and
(c) “able and willing immediately to take up paid work” under a work availability requirement(20) imposed on such a person means able and willing to take up paid work, or attend an interview, immediately once this regulation ceases to apply.
(2) This regulation applies for a period of 3 months beginning with the date that these Regulations come into force and the Secretary of State may extend that period for all cases or any class of case where it appears expedient as a consequence of the continuation of the outbreak of coronavirus disease.
(3) In this regulation, “new style JSA” means an allowance under the Jobseekers Act 1995 as amended by the amendments made by Part 1 of Schedule 14 to the Welfare Reform Act 2012 that remove references to an income-based allowance.

EDIT: Amended post, regulations effective from 30th March. I originally put 13th but that is a relevant date for a different point.

ARainyDay

Thank you so much for clarifying!

Clockface29

This is completely different to what I was advised to do, had my telephone appointment/interview on the 25th of March. I was advised to search 35hrs a week and to make myself available for work or interview within a 30 min radius instead of the standard 90 mins. Was I advised wrong? I did query it with them in regards to the lockdown but they said I was still expected to travel.

calcotti

Clockface29 said:

This is completely different to what I was advised to do, had my telephone appointment/interview on the 25th of March. I was advised to search 35hrs a week and to make myself available for work or interview within a 30 min radius instead of the standard 90 mins. Was I advised wrong? I did query it with them in regards to the lockdown but they said I was still expected to travel.

That advice was correct when given on the 25th march. The legislation I referenced was laid on the 27th March and are effective from 30th March for 3 months.