New Job at 12 hours p/w while on (NS)JSA - does claim end on start date or first pay date?

Tunstallstoven

HI all

Sorry for the long title!  Wondered if anyone might be able to help with this please?  

I'm on (NS)JSA and recently started a job at 12 hours p/w.  Once I started, I called up the number I was given to end my claim, but the adviser said the claim does not end because the job is less than 16 hours.  More importantly though, he said that I would continue to be paid the full amount of benefit even whilst working, and that this would only change once I receive my first wage.  I queried this as I expected the job start date to be the significant date.  But he was adamant.  

I've signed on once since then, and by work coach (who is very chilled) had no problem with this, filled in a form, and all was good.  

Firstly, I wondered if anyone could please confirm whether all the above sounds correct?  


Next...  My first wage was due to be paid on 05/08, but due to admin errors at payroll it's looking likely that I won't get paid this month and they'll roll the pay into the next pay day on 02/09 instead.  If this happens - and if the points above are indeed correct - will my benefit continue to be paid up until 02/09? 

Hope my post is clear in writing than how it feels in my head! 

Many thanks in advance for any help    

Robbie64

It's true that if your hours are less than 16 then JSA wouldn't automatically end. I also believe that as you work under 16 hours it's your wages that affect your JSA and not just starting work so it's likely that your JSA would continue to run until you get your first pay packet. At that point your JSA would end as the earnings disregard is only £5, a figure it has been stuck at since 1988. With 12 hours at minimum wage plus the £5 disregard, it's likely that your earnings will exceed your JSA.

Tunstallstoven

Many thanks, that's very helpful