On the bench!

[psychocandy]

yes.
When I last signed on in 2010 they paid my council tax but went through my bank statements forensically.
When I have been benched since then I havent bothered and just taken the hit.
The general grimness of interacting with the great unwashed and the state means I rather take the hit.

3 months on the bench = £1250 lost in JSA.

OK, week 1 you might not care. By week 13 and you're still on the bench that £1000 or so might be handy.

Way I look at it, £73 a week = £315 a month. Thats £315 a month not coming out of my warchest whilst on the bench.

Supposing my outgoings are £1500 a month whilst on the bench and my warchest is £10K.

Claiming JSA, I need £1150 a month (which lasts 10000/1150 = 8.7 months.

Not claiming, £1500 a month (lasts 6.7 months).

No brainer

[SlipTheJab]

Nah. Its means tested so depends.

So why are people on here so anti claiming it, I mean even allowing for the tax breaks we get as Ltds I am still paying 20k+ over to HMRC as CT, why shouldn't I claim what I can in benefits when on the bench while scroats who have paid in nothing milk the system for all its worth! So PC all I need is a P45 from my Ltd and then its 3 months off over the summer (taking savings etc into account).

[psychocandy]

when you've only got enough left to cover the bus fare to the job centre - that's the time to apply for JSA

too late then

[Avalonia]

Unfortunately, council tax benefit is means tested.

I have the means.

[Mincepie]

JSA is for peasants the end!

[SunnyInHades]

3 months on the bench = £1250 lost in JSA.
Claiming JSA
No brainer

Isn't one of the benefits of contracting to enjoy bench time as/if you wish using your built up warchest, doing what/when you want ? e.g. up at noon for a month, followed by 4 weeks golfing in Spain

JSA seems to enforce quite a regime, not the life of Riley it used to be ? (or is it still ?) ..

"You’ll have to accept a ‘Claimant Commitment’ if you want to claim JSA
You and your work coach will agree what goes in your Claimant Commitment. It might include:
1) what you need to do to look for work, eg registering with recruitment agencies, writing a CV
2) how many hours you need to spend looking for work each week
3) your circumstances, eg work history, health, family or caring responsibilities
Your JSA might be stopped if you don’t do what you’ve agreed to in your Claimant Commitment and you can’t give a good reason.
You must go to a Jobcentre Plus office (usually every 2 weeks or when asked). This is known as ‘signing on’.
When you sign on, you’ll need to show your work coach what you’ve been doing to look for work,
eg job applications and interviews.

Work Programme
You might have to join the Work Programme if:
you’ve been getting Jobseeker’s Allowance for more than 3 months
"

[Avalonia]

I had to sign on every two weeks, I went to Greece in the middle week once. Trusting I would be signing with a different drone the next time who wouldn't notice the tan
DON'T tell them if you plan on going on holiday.

[theroyale]

So why are people on here so anti claiming it, I mean even allowing for the tax breaks we get as Ltds I am still paying 20k+ over to HMRC as CT, why shouldn't I claim what I can in benefits when on the bench while scroats who have paid in nothing milk the system for all its worth! So PC all I need is a P45 from my Ltd and then its 3 months off over the summer (taking savings etc into account).

Well when people like you on this forum who earn £100k a year are happy to milk the system what chance do we have with the "scroats"?!

[flamel]

An unusual post, I get the impression most CUK posters have a massive "warchest" and this is the time now to pile in with
"shut your mouth and look at my wad/warchest"

I spent my wad on a chest

[northernladuk]

Well when people like you on this forum who earn £100k a year are happy to milk the system what chance do we have with the "scroats"?!

To be fair to PC it's all above board to claim if you have the need or desire to. Neither of which I have so not something I would do but its personal preference.