On the bench - JSA, salary etc

[psychocandy]

I thought you had to have minimal assets to qualify for JSA, and even then you had to be benched for many weeks before qualifying and then go through regular progress reports on what you're doing to search for jobs? I think I'd have to be pretty desperate to go through that, which is sort of the point of JSA. And I doubt they'd really understand your situation at the jobcenter, which could be pretty painful. My g/f went through this several years ago for a very short period (fortunately) - she's an academic, and they had literally no clue about appropriate positions....got the impression that anything out of the ordinary is a bit of a saga.

Nope. Straight away.

It is but £80 a week for 30 mins hassle ????

[psychocandy]

Thanks Craig. I did wonder if you could stop your salary and then catch up later.

Hmmm. Good point about the other contract. Not sure if asking the jobcentre would get me anywhere though.

[Scoobos]

Call me an idjit, but don't you feel guilty wanting to claim JSA when you have an employer and a salary?

Very topical at the moment, but it's not right is it?

[northernladuk]

Nope. Straight away.

It is but £80 a week for 30 mins hassle ????

It isn't 30 minutes hassle. Why don't you go and read up on what you are trying to do so you don't say anything else daft?

[jamesbrown]

Nope. Straight away.

It is but £80 a week for 30 mins hassle ????

Interesting, I guess I'm thinking about the income-based JSA, rather than the contribution-based JSA(?) I think one of them is means tested. If you do qualify, it's still worth thinking about whether it's intended for people like you IMHO (I don't know your situation, of course....).

[psychocandy]

Call me an idjit, but don't you feel guilty wanting to claim JSA when you have an employer and a salary?

Very topical at the moment, but it's not right is it?

LOL. Think how many scrotes out there who have never worked, claimed benefits all their life, and never intend to work.

I know us contractors sometimes sail close to the wind with regards to tax/NI etc but most of us its all legal and we still pay a fair shedload of tax.

Sorry if its ok for the unmarried mother to shell out another sprog because she can get more benefits, get a council house and make even less attempt to get a job, then its ok for me to get a few quick back out of the literally thousands I've paid in tax over the years.

[northernladuk]

Yes. I have done it many times. Hassle it is admitedly, but my point is, you're on the bench, someone is going to give you £80 a week for doing what you're going to be doing anyway. Its not like you've not got the time.

If you dont want to do it or can afford to cough up the money then don't do it.

So you have done it before but didn't know you need a P45 and whether or not you can claim it whilst paying yourself a wage?

[psychocandy]

Interesting, I guess I'm thinking about the income-based JSA, rather than the contribution-based JSA(?) I think one of them is means tested. If you do qualify, it's still worth thinking about whether it's intended for people like you IMHO (I don't know your situation, of course....).

Means tested - if you've got a partner who works you've got no chance anyway. Forget it.

My mrs is a nurse who works part-time and they told me she was WAY above the threshold. :-(

Contribution-based you can get anyway - unless you've got £16K in the bank? Not sure about the lmit now.

[psychocandy]

So you have done it before but didn't know you need a P45 and whether or not you can claim it whilst paying yourself a wage?

Last time was 1999. I cant remember/things may have changed.

I know you were probably still in school then....

[psychocandy]

It isn't 30 minutes hassle. Why don't you go and read up on what you are trying to do so you don't say anything else daft?

Yes. I have done it many times. Hassle it is admitedly, but my point is, you're on the bench, someone is going to give you £80 a week for doing what you're going to be doing anyway. Its not like you've not got the time.

OK. After the initial form filling etc it is 30 mins every fortnight. Roll up to jobcentre, show them spreadsheet with job applications on, sign on.

If you dont want to do it or can afford to cough up the money then don't do it.