New Style JSA - what happens after 6 months?

SXX

My JSA ends in November.   In the event that I don't get a job before then, does anyone know whether JSA's are extended?  if so, for how long?  Thank you

sammyjammy

No its not extended dependant on your personal circumstances and savings you may be able claim Universal Credit.

Grumpy_chap

It used to be the case that even after the payments stopped at 6 months, being on JSA and staying on it (but no payments) meant your NI "stamp" was still credited.  It was also previously possible to remain on JSA (without the payment) and continue to receive the support from the "work coaches" (except I am not sure they are working currently because of COVID) and also, sometimes, training / support.  I don't know whether any of that remains the case, but it is worth enquiring.

calcotti

Grumpy_chap said:

It used to be the case that even after the payments stopped at 6 months, being on JSA and staying on it (but no payments) meant your NI "stamp" was still credited.  It was also previously possible to remain on JSA (without the payment) and continue to receive the support from the "work coaches" (except I am not sure they are working currently because of COVID) and also, sometimes, training / support.  I don't know whether any of that remains the case, but it is worth enquiring.

You can still remain registered as a jobseeker and receive NI credits - but somebody in this situation is not ‘on JSA’. 
Work coaches have not stopped working during COVID. They have been working by phone but have now resumed limited work in job centres.

SXX

calcotti said:

Grumpy_chap said:

It used to be the case that even after the payments stopped at 6 months, being on JSA and staying on it (but no payments) meant your NI "stamp" was still credited.  It was also previously possible to remain on JSA (without the payment) and continue to receive the support from the "work coaches" (except I am not sure they are working currently because of COVID) and also, sometimes, training / support.  I don't know whether any of that remains the case, but it is worth enquiring.

You can still remain registered as a jobseeker and receive NI credits - but somebody in this situation is not ‘on JSA’. 
Work coaches have not stopped working during COVID. They have been working by phone but have now resumed limited work in job centres.

Thanks - I had a very brief telcon with a 'job coach' and then nothing whatsoever - no phone/email or contact via a job centre but my JSA payments are continuing to be paid.   In normal times I can understand the JSA being stopped after 6 months because in normal times you should get a job within 6 months but this is not normal - during this pandemic I am finding that there are hundreds of candidates for each job so it will take longer to find a job.   So I wonder if JSA payments might be extended during the pandemic.  I'll let you know if there are any developments.

epm-84

SXX said:

calcotti said:

Grumpy_chap said:

It used to be the case that even after the payments stopped at 6 months, being on JSA and staying on it (but no payments) meant your NI "stamp" was still credited.  It was also previously possible to remain on JSA (without the payment) and continue to receive the support from the "work coaches" (except I am not sure they are working currently because of COVID) and also, sometimes, training / support.  I don't know whether any of that remains the case, but it is worth enquiring.

You can still remain registered as a jobseeker and receive NI credits - but somebody in this situation is not ‘on JSA’. 
Work coaches have not stopped working during COVID. They have been working by phone but have now resumed limited work in job centres.

Thanks - I had a very brief telcon with a 'job coach' and then nothing whatsoever - no phone/email or contact via a job centre but my JSA payments are continuing to be paid.   In normal times I can understand the JSA being stopped after 6 months because in normal times you should get a job within 6 months but this is not normal - during this pandemic I am finding that there are hundreds of candidates for each job so it will take longer to find a job.   So I wonder if JSA payments might be extended during the pandemic.  I'll let you know if there are any developments.

Strangely it seems that those who started claims during the full lockdown were not asked to undertake the usual claimant commitment, meaning you may not get paid even if you didn't actively look for work.  However, instead of putting those already claiming on claimant commitments when lockdown measures were eased it seemed they focused on putting new applicants on claimant commitments and they let existing claimants carry on getting benefits without ensuring they do enough to look for work.

The 6 month limit isn't to do with how long it should take you to find a job* but it relates to the maximum they allow you to claim based on NI credits.  The rule is you can claim once per benefit year (1st Jan - 31st Dec) and not within 13(?) weeks of a previous claim, so you can apply again in 2021 once it's at least 13 weeks since the end of your last claim.  Whether you'll get accepted depends on your NI record for the 18/19 and 19/20 tax years.

*They actually normally only give you 12 weeks to find a similar job to the one you previously had and after that you are expected to apply for any job you can do (except apprenticeships unless they are appropriate) paying the minimum wage or above.

calcotti

epm-84 said: However, instead of putting those already claiming on claimant commitments when lockdown measures were eased it seemed they focused on putting new applicants on claimant commitments and they let existing claimants carry on getting benefits without ensuring they do enough to look for work.

That's simply the pragmatic thing to do. It's going to take a while to work through all the claimants over the last few months. It is more sensible to get new claimants set up properly now than rush them through and add them to the list of people that need to be returned to.

Tyton01

Ok just my opinion but I think benefits should not be means tested during pandemic, as a lot of people lost their jobs through no fault of their own and some have used lots of savings to get by especially the people who didn’t get any support in first place. Furlough was never means tested either. As for these so called job coaches they are a waste of time they sit down with you and  just ask you to apply for jobs  well anyone can tell someone  to apply for job I could be a job coach even my 5 year old nephew could do it, they offer very little apart from will these online training courses which also are rubbish  like a customer service course they tend to fob you off with,trust me I’ve done them . If they want people to have new skills  up they need  to offer decent training.

Grumpy_chap

My experience with a Work Coach when I was on JSA was entirely the opposite of Tyron's.  I found the support and training very practical and quite motivating when I was down.  Maybe I was just "lucky", or maybe you get out of it what you put into it.

My experience was not within the current coronavirus era.

epm-84

Grumpy_chap said:

My experience with a Work Coach when I was on JSA was entirely the opposite of Tyron's.  I found the support and training very practical and quite motivating when I was down.  Maybe I was just "lucky", or maybe you get out of it what you put into it.

I had to deal with multiple job coaches when I claimed previously, due to one job coach getting too busy, a job centre closing part way through the claim and my new job coach having to go in to hospital for an operation.  I find they can be a right mix.  Some just want you to let them know what you've done and if you don't raise any concerns or problems, they're happy with what you've done and you don't have anything else to bring up the appointment only takes a few minutes.  Others don't seem to enjoy their role (possibly because they used to have a better role paying more) and they're the ones that create a less pleasant experience for claimants. 

SXX

Some just want you to let them know what you've done and if you don't raise any concerns or problems, they're happy with what you've done and you don't have anything else to bring up the appointment only takes a few minutes.

I think this describes my situation as I had only one telcon with a job coach lasting a few mins - they just wanted to know that I was taking steps to look for a job- and therefore left me alone and have never heard from them since.