Timing of Universal Credit and new-style JSA sanctions.

A_Lert

I left my job without a new one lined up. My understanding is under either UC or JSA that incurs a 91-day "sanction", but I can't find out how the time is calculated.

Is the start date based on something to do with my last job (for example day after my last day at work)? In which case I don't need to worry about claiming, and going to the Jobcentre and all that, right now.

Or will they try to start the sanction period when I claim, meaning that if I left claiming until September I would lose out?

I'm lucky enough to have savings to cover my expenses for a while, and no housing costs, but I still don't want to make a costly mistake.

calcotti

If the are sanctioned the sanction period starts from the date on the sanctionable activity occurred - in this case it we would when you gave up your job,

peteuk

Might be just the way my head works  but would it be better to 

leave job day 1, apply for JSA day to and get everything in place for day 91 when the sanction runs out…

rather than 
leave job day 1, not do anything until day X and then hit all the problems that may occur so day 92 be still working things out.

A_Lert said:

Is the start date based on something to do with my last job (for example day after my last day at work)? In which case I don't need to worry about claiming, and going to the Jobcentre and all that, right now.

Spoonie_Turtle

peteuk said:

Might be just the way my head works  but would it be better to 

leave job day 1, apply for JSA day to and get everything in place for day 91 when the sanction runs out…

rather than 
leave job day 1, not do anything until day X and then hit all the problems that may occur so day 92 be still working things out.

A_Lert said:

Is the start date based on something to do with my last job (for example day after my last day at work)? In which case I don't need to worry about claiming, and going to the Jobcentre and all that, right now.

No because entitlement to JSA is limited to 6 months.  If half of that is eaten up by a sanction the person will have lost out unnecessarily, when they could have just claimed later after the sanctionable period and got the full entitlement.

calcotti

Moreover if they claim JSA and are sanctioned they will still have to meet the conditions of the Claimant Commitment. If they delay claiming they will have that time to job search in their own way and without having to go to Job Centre for meetings etc. (and if lucky will find a new job in that time).