Job seekers

[angeldraws]

Hi - my daughter is currently at Uni, and survives only on her loan, although she is looking for a job during the summer holidays. She is staying in the area where she goes to Uni rather than returning home during the summer break as she has been independent for the last 2.5 years.

Can anyone tell me if she is entitled to receive job seekers allowance whilst she is searching for a job even tho she will be returning to Uni after summer?

Or, is there any other provision for students during the summer break as the loan is supposed to help them out financially only during term time (if i have that right....)?

Thanks in advance.

[EuanC]

Unless the law has changed in the 7 years since I graduated - then I am afraid the answer is no angeldraws.

It was always the case that come the end of the exams that I would be totally skint - but having absolutely zero cash is the best incentive to get out there and find a holiday job, no matter how crap it may seem.

[stevie21]

Nope - she'll have to get a job.

[buildersmate]

JobSeekers Allowance depends on NI contributiuons having been made in the previous period (year). So, as above.

[angeldraws]

Thanks guys - i thought so.....she's not opposed to gettin a job it just doesn't seem that easy - maybe she's too fussy!!! ;-)

[Skell18]

Short answer is No, as mentioned it is dependent on NI contributions made and doesn't apply to people in full time education. Once graduated it is different I think.

Hope this helps

[sponsmith]

Yes she most certainly can.

My wife is a benefits officer and she said to contact your local benefits office for a form.

Hope this helps

[stinchcombe]

The answer is yes but only if you have a child, otherwise, quite rightly the answer is no

[neenynanu]

I didn't think they could - I had contacted my benefits office when I was at uni and they said no.

However.... every university gets money from the government to give out in the form of 'hardship funds'. If the worst came to the worst and she didn't get a job, and spent her interest-free overdraft, she would almost certainly be entitled to a grant of up to �1,000. You could apply for up to one per term. I had many financial difficulties at uni and got about �2,000 off my university to help me make ends meet so I wouldn't have to work every minute of the day.

Finding summer work when you're at uni is a tough call as no one wants to hire someone who'll leave after 2 months unfortunately.

[steviep165]

i graduated uni in 2004, and while i was there i wasnt entitled to any benefits.
and here's the cruncher, even though i'd worked in a well paid job for the 13 years before going back to uni (paying shed loads of NI contributions) i wasnt entitled to any unemployment payments after graduation as i hadnt paid enough contributions in the last three years.