job seekers

[4getmenot]

Am having trouble finding a full time job but cant really afford part time. Better than nothing I guess but was wondering if I worked 16 hours a week would I still get my job seekers allowance or would the amount I get now be reduced?

[Greedyfly]

Full amount - you can work upto 16 hours on jobseekers every week but obviously during this time you haev to be looking for a full time job. =)

[4getmenot]

could be an idea then. But job could also lead to more hours anyway.

[dothawkes31]

If you are over 25 and find a job of 30 hours a week or more you will get an element paid weekly as working tax credit,

[Greedyfly]

Yeah. The problem I had was I would be temping so one week I would be working full time hours and the next maybe 8 hours - so you have to keep reapplying for jobseekers - which is a long pain in the backside.

[dothawkes31]

try here;
http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx

[Greedyfly]

But working tax credit works on your previous financial year. So if you were earning a full wage last year and live with a partner for example (like myself) then you are generally not entitled to working tax credits due to earning too much. But as Dothawkes says it is defo worth checking out!

[dothawkes31]

yes you would be as your circumstances will have changed and they can alter your WTC up or down

[cherrychapstick]

if you work less than 16 hours a week you will still get some jobseekers allowance ,but dont qualify for working tax credit ..........if you work 16 or more you may be entitled to working tax credits as long as your family income does not exceed the maximum not sure what it is at ,at the moment as i cant find it on their site sorry
What hours do you need to work to get Working Tax Credit?

If you don’t have children, you need to work the following hours:

* if you are aged 25 or over, you need to do paid work of at least 30 hours a week
* if you have a disability and are 16 or over, you need to do paid work of at least 16 hours a week
* if you or your partner are aged 50 or over and are going back to work after being on out of work benefits, such as Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance, you need to do paid work of at least 16 hours a week

If you have children, you need to be aged 16 or over and do paid work of at least 16 hours a week to qualify. if this is the case you should also get child tax credit hope this helps

[CheekyChops]

Your job seekers allowance will be reduced by any earnings that you get.

I was signing on last year after being made redunant from my f/time job but I still had a p/time job of 11.5 hrs. I earned £52 from that and they knocked that amount off my JSA (I think they ignore the first £5) so I was getting £10 pw JSA, hardly work keeping my p/time job for.

[4getmenot]

oh i thought it wouldnt go down and i could work 2 days and still get my 65 a week too

[Greedyfly]

I worked as a temp whilst on jobseekers mine never got reduced. Maybe give them a ring to confirm.

[sara3]

when you sign on, you're signing a declaration, "I have done no work, paid or unpaid, full or part time... " etc.

you have to declare any work you do and it will affect your benefit.

[Greedyfly]

I would like to point out that mine was declared and that you can work up to 16 hours a week whilst claiming jobseekers.

http://www.direct.gov...ngforwork/dg_10018757

[sara3]

Greedyfly, yes you can, but it will reduce your benefits.

[4getmenot]

ive got to sign on thurs so will ask them then

[Buenchico]

Just to tidy up CheekyChops accurate post:
The amount that is deducted from your JSA is £5 less than your earnings. So if you earn £30 in a week, you'll lose £25. If you earn £65 in a week, you'll lose all bar a fiver. If you earn £70 or more, you'll lose all of your JSA.

So basically that means that small amounts of work can't add more than a fiver to your weekly income. If you have to pay fares (or for petrol) to get to that work, you can often be left much worse off by accepting part-time work.

Chris

[Eve]

Have you tried a temp agency?

Even at minimum wage you will earn far more full time than JSA, if you do 37.5 hours a week @ £5.80 = £187.08 take home per week compared to the max £65.45 per week JSA.

Most secretarial and admin roles pay more than this per hour.

[4getmenot]

jen I'm trying to find secretarial work. Its not that easy. Plus I dont really have a car all the time.

[joko]

yes, they deduct all but a fiver...so really its not worth it...except if the purpose is to gain experience in your chosen field

they want people off the dole completely so dont really want you to go part time, as it would suit many to get full dole and just top it up...

[sara3]

my friend, a single parent with 2 children, found herself having to claim benefits last year. she desperately applied for jobs until she got one. it pays badly, but she took it as she felt it was, for her, more dignified than claiming benefits, and her life became her own as she found the whole signing-on regime to be humiliating. she works hard, gets paid virtually minimum wage and I admire her for her attitude.