What benefits

sloppychops

My son has just quit his job.He was on a 3 month trial basis but has decided he doesnt like it and that hes been treat unfairly and like a skivvie.He told me that for the past 2 weeks hes been doing the job of 3 people and was just left in the office on his own to get on with it,although there was supposed to be someone there with him helping him with his training she hasnt actually been there for 5 days.He was told on a couple of occassions that they wanted him to stay behind to work late but it would be unpaid.He said he didnt want to do it and they basically told him he had to or else.Hes 18 years old and is very keen when it comes to working but the last 2 jobs he has had all they have wanted was a very low paid skivvie.Its as if they have no respect for kids wanting to work so they take advantage.
Would he be able to claim job seekers allowance now?
Any help or info would be great.

Fran

He should put in a claim for Jobseekers Allowance straight away. The trouble is though he is likely to be sanctioned for leaving voluntarily, meaning he won't get paid for a number of weeks depending on what decision they come to. If he writes down all the incidents that happened while they are fresh in his mind, it could influence their decision.

dag_2

I agree with Fran. He should pick up the claim form for JSA straight away, but be prepared for the possibility of a sanction.

However, he might be able to escape the sanctions under the "Employment on Trial" rules. How long was he in the job, and how long was he out of work before it? If he was in this last job for more than four weeks, but less than twelve weeks, and he was unemployed for more than thirteen weeks continuously before he started the job - then he shouldn't be sanctioned.

If there's a chance he'll be sanctioned, the first he'll hear of it is a letter saying his claim is being referred to a decision maker. He will get this letter some time after the interview where he signs the jobseeker agreement - but if he's otherwise entitled to JSA, it should be paid up to the date that the sanction is imposed.

sloppychops

Hes made an appointment for jobseekers and explained his situation.The job he has just quit was initially for a 12 week trial and he did 6 weeks.Previous to this he was also on another work trial for a different company,this trial was for 1 month but they told him at the end of the trial he was not suitable although during the trial they said he was doing great and they had no problems at all with his work.
In between these 2 jobs he claimed jobseekers for about 4 weeks

dag_2

In between these 2 jobs he claimed jobseekers for about 4 weeks

That won't be long enough to qualify for "employment on trial" I'm afraid - there's a risk of sanction.

But don't let a risk of sanction put him off claiming JSA in the first place. Sanctioned JSA is effectively JSA paid at a zero rate - so, you still qualify for all the side-benefits, regardless of sanction status. In particular, this applies to all the incentives JSA claimants are given to get a job, such as extended housing benefit after 26 weeks, or Job Grant after 52 weeks. You don't qualify for these side-benefits if you never claimed JSA in the first place.

Fran

Sanctioned JSA is effectively JSA paid at a zero rate

It's not necessarily zero, it can be JSA paid at a reduced rate.

sloppychops

Thanks for all your replies.He made an appointment with jobseekers and they looked into the matter and have decided that he is still entitled to full rate JS of £44.05 a week.Not alot i know but better than half or nothing at all.So now hes job hunting again ,looking for the perfect job he keeps telling me ;D