UC while on zero hours but want to change jobs

pkwpkw1

I'm currently on zero hours contract as a relief worker in the care sector (support work).

I would like to move on to a different type of job. The main 2 reasons are that it affects my mental health (although I don't have any formal diagnosis) and it's a low paid job in a sector I feel is not a good fit for me and frankly I have reached a kind of burn out. I don't feel I can give my best, most of the time I just hate it, and I'm barely getting by.

The nature of the job is such that I can pick and choose shifts and usually there are enough hours to go around, but it's working with different individuals many of whom I don't know, so I tend to stick to the familiar ones I've worked with before. However this narrows down the amount of hours I can do weekly considerably. But the shifts are never guaranteed. There is also the question of how much I can do before I feel overwhelmed and anxious. So at the moment I'm working about 3 days a week. 

My question is, can I go on UC and JSA and use that as a support in my income and to look for another role, is it feasible in my circumstances? It would give me much needed head space and reduce my anxiety, so that I can look for another role and learn new skills. Or would they say that I have a job already and I should just pick up more shifts? My savings are around the threshold for UC. At the same time, I'm also wary of going on benefits, with previous bad experiences with Working Tax Credits and Housing Benefit where I ended up with overpayments and it cost me lots of stress. What is your advice?

huckster

You cannot go on JSA if you are working 16 hours or more per week. Even if you only worked say 6 hours per week JSA only ignores first £5 of weekly income and then deducts £1 fron benefit for each £1 earned, so probably no benefit left to pay.

So you are looking at claiming UC. If you claim UC after giving  up work, they may refer you to a Decision Maker for giving up paid work voluntarily to go on benefits. They may accept your mental health reasons  but if they did not, the benefit would be sanctioned for 91 days.

You could claim UC whilst continuing minimal hours and ask for Job Centre help. Working a small number.of hours while applying for different work may be best option.

Etchergifts

You can claim Universal Credit on zero-hours work, but earnings reduce payments. JSA probably won’t apply since you’re employed. Savings may limit UC, but housing help is possible. Report income accurately to avoid issues.

peteuk

JSA is depenant on your NI payments for the last two whole years (2023 and 2024) 

singhini

peteuk said:

JSA is depenant on your NI payments for the last two whole years (2023 and 2024) 

is that 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 ?

rosewalk

It would be for the tax years 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 

pmlindyloo

In a previous thread you mentioned that your partner had No Recourse To Public Funds.

If this is still the case you may like to read this article about claiming Universal Credit in these circumstances.

Universal credit couple claims where one member has no recourse to public funds | by Carlos Hagi | Adviser online | Medium

peteuk

rosewalk said:

It would be for the tax years 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 

I thought it was actually years not tax years, but i could be wrong. 

huckster

peteuk said:

rosewalk said:

It would be for the tax years 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 

I thought it was actually years not tax years, but i could be wrong. 

It is tax years. It is just that on the first Sunday inJanuary each year, the tax years looked at change.

At the moment it is tax years 2022/23 &  2023/24

HillStreetBlues

peteuk said:

rosewalk said:

It would be for the tax years 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 

I thought it was actually years not tax years, but i could be wrong. 

It's tax years, 22/23 & 23/24 is correct, years change every January.

Spoonie_Turtle

Yes, the two most recent complete tax years prior to the current calendar year.