Jobseeker’s Allowance

nutzzzz

I have been made redundant. Can I claim new style JSA if I am only looking to work 16 hours a week?. I was previously working 16 hours a week.

Sncjw

How much In redundancy money did you get as that might affect it 

Brie

yes you can and they won't take into account any redundancy money.

I went from being full time being made redundant to taking on a job just 10 hours a week.  That didn't stop me making a claim.  (their bureaucracy did but that's a different story and down to one incompetent individual about whom I've logged a complaint)

TadleyBaggie

Sncjw said:

How much In redundancy money did you get as that might affect it 

Doesn't affect it all. When it happened to me and I got a 6 figure payoff I claimed JSA without an issue. I did it for the NI contribution rather than the JSA amount!

nutzzzz

Thank you all for your answers. As you say the new JSA is not means tested so redundancy amount is not relevant. The slight difference is that I am only looking for 16 hours a week work. Do I need to declare that or should I say I am looking for full time?. I can’t find a definition of “full time” on the .gov website

elsien

I think it may depend on the reasons why you are only looking for part time work. For example if you have family/caring commitments as opposed just not wanting to work longer hours.
But whatever is on your work commitment you have to stick to so if you say on it that you’re looking for full-time work and then only apply for part time jobs that is going to raise questions. 

Having said that, according to turn2us then for JSA purposes 16 hours is full time.

diystarter7

nutzzzz said:

Thank you all for your answers. As you say the new JSA is not means tested so redundancy amount is not relevant. The slight difference is that I am only looking for 16 hours a week work. Do I need to declare that or should I say I am looking for full time?. I can’t find a definition of “full time” on the .gov website

Hi OP
Be open and honest. See what they have to say, listen, digest and if they insist on something, consider changing your answer.
They can't stop your benefits for asking, EG, seeking benefits/JSA and you tell them "ideally I want to work x hours" and see what they say.  I've met someone at a wedding that worked on the front desk of a benefits place and she said she appreciated the honesty and reasonable people and went the extra mile for those that were willing to try and adjust as far as they could and aware
that people may seem fighting fit but are physically or mentally not able to complete x hours of work.

If you wish and don't want to try above, give them a call and ask about 16 hours etc without giving your name and withholding your number. At least you can then make your mind up on puka info.
Good luck.

General_Grant

I haven't had contact with unemployment benefit regulations for some years now but 16 hours used to count as full-time for JSA.