Claiming JSA while waiting on a start date?

Even if you can, what's the point? It'll take effort to fill out any forms, time to process your application, by which time you'll get 1 week's worth of JSA (maybe 2 if you're lucky) which is like 50 or 60 quid.

Are you actively looking for work in between?

Are you actively looking for work in between?

To be perfectly honest I wasn't planning on it. It just seems really unlikely that I'd be able to find a job for such a short amount of time. I really need the money though and have been (and will be) paying it all back in tax. This is what I'm paying taxes for isn't it!?

If I do let them know and agree to continue looking/applying for jobs can they turn me away?

You have to apply for jobs to get the benefit- hence why it is called JSA.

You wouldn't get away with it. When I go for my sign on the randomly pick two jobs that I have applied for, ask me to take them to the advertisement and contact the company while I'm there to ensure im doing what I'm suppose too.

Doesn't happen all the time.

Why do you "need" the money? Do you live alone and therefore unable to pay for housing and food without it?! Im sure if your homeless or will be without it you would entitled to different benefit.

If I do let them know and agree to continue looking/applying for jobs can they turn me away?

Are you allowed to do this? I finished my previous job on Friday (temporary contract) and, while I do have another job lined up, I don't start working there until mid-May.

I intend to claim JSA for these few weeks in between but I'm wondering if I'm technically allowed to do so or if I should just not mention the fact that I have a job when I go for the meeting with them. Or maybe just come clean and agree to look for work in the intervening weeks? (As silly as that sounds)

Anyone been in this situation? Can't find any info on it on the JSA website.

Unlike some of the others, I don't think this is at all unreasonable. I'm assuming that the job you have starting in mid-May is a fixed start date, so you don't have the option of starting sooner? If you do have that option, then clearly no you shouldn't claim JSA. However if you don't, then why the hell not?

He's unemployed in the interim and has no income, why should he not claim until such time as his new job begins. Like he mentioned himself, he's a tax payer and this is a period of unemployment, this is surely exactly what the system is intended for? He's not chosen to be out of work?

While I don't think it is morally wrong, I do think you might struggle as the rules seem to stipulate you must be actively searching for a job. I myself am leaving university in approximately a month and while I have a graduate position confirmed it doesn't start until September. That's over 3 months from when I finish. So I'd be interested to hear how this works out for you, as I might consider it if I can't get something part time in the interim (admittedly with mine being a longer gap, I would expect myself to look for work to fill the time).

They also said it's important to do so because it affects your National Insurance contributions. If you are unemployed for a time and don't claim it's possible that you won't pay enough NI and they may ask you to pay voluntary contributions to make it up (so by not taking money you'll have to pay more in NI...madness!). This probably won't affect me (though it's still important not to have any gaps, however small) but it might affect you if you're out of work for a few months so you should definitely claim.

Surely, you'd only be affected if you're in your 40s or 50s? You need 30 years NI for a full state pension. If you're young, then should not matter.

So basically, your planning on committing benefit fraud? Leave it off.

There are people out there who can't get a job AT ALL. Coun't your lucky stars you have one waiting for you and don't be so selfish.

It isn't benefit fraud. JSA is designed to support people trying to get into work - why should the original poster be penalised because he has been successful in looking for a job?

Thanks. I rang the JSA people this morning and they told me that I can claim as long as I do actively seek work (which I will...not much I can do, but I can ring my previous employer to check if they need me for another few weeks and ring my future employer to see if I can come in early to do filing etc. before my start date).

They also said it's important to do so because it affects your National Insurance contributions. If you are unemployed for a time and don't claim it's possible that you won't pay enough NI and they may ask you to pay voluntary contributions to make it up (so by not taking money you'll have to pay more in NI...madness!). This probably won't affect me (though it's still important not to have any gaps, however small) but it might affect you if you're out of work for a few months so you should definitely claim.

Another thing they said was about student loan repayments. I'm assuming you have a student loan? If so, it's important that you are claiming because if you appear to have no income, the SLC can become suspicious of how you are supporting yourself and even begin to suspect that you have left the country without paying them! You can run the risk of a hefty fine from them if you don't keep them informed and all this can be avoided by claiming JSA, as HMRC will then inform SLC that you are registered unemployed. (I actually got a warning letter about this from SLC a few months ago when I was between jobs for one week )

Hope that helps. I've just submitted my form anyway!