[M_E_X]

Hey guys,

I have recently finished university (although I don't formally graduate until the middle of June), and I have had a number of graduate scheme offers, one of which I am starting at the beginning of September.

I have read about people claiming job seekers allowance (JSA) during this summer before starting work. At £52/week, for 16 weeks, that's over £800...quite a lot of money to miss out on!

I have made an appointment with my local jobcentre to discuss this.

I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this, whether it is possible, and anything I need to be careful to say / not to say. I am planning to be very honest, and to fully explain the situation and say I am looking for work, but I will take my grad job in September - so I'm looking for just temporary work, basically.

Any tips or advice would be much appreciated, thanks!

[M_E_X]

No views, guys?

[michael321]

(Original post by M_E_X)
No views, guys?

I am not an expert; but since no-one else has commented, I will pitch in.

As I understand it, to receive JSA you must be looking for a job. This will involve regular appointments at the jobcentre, filling in endless application forms, going to interviews, and so on.

You may well be genuinely looking for temp work, but the likelihood of anyone wanting to hire a graduate who will only be around for a couple of months is low, even for such a job. Firms tend to like experienced individuals for temping, so that training and getting used to the world of work do not cut into an already limited period of employment.

Therefore, chances are that you will sit there for four months, putting in a fair bit of effort for 1/4 of the minimum wage for an 18-21-year-old on a standard working week. If that floats your boat, there aren't problems as far as I know. But my strong advice would be not to bother. Spend four months doing something enjoyable - travelling, relaxing, touring around catching up with friends, learning a language - rather than being stuck at the JobCentre doing endless CV-creation exercises, dodging round the sanctions they keep trying to impose, and being pushed to apply for jobs which would pay 25% of what you can expect to earn on a decent grad scheme.

[M_E_X]

(Original post by michael321)
I am not an expert; but since no-one else has commented, I will pitch in.

As I understand it, to receive JSA you must be looking for a job. This will involve regular appointments at the jobcentre, filling in endless application forms, going to interviews, and so on.

You may well be genuinely looking for temp work, but the likelihood of anyone wanting to hire a graduate who will only be around for a couple of months is low, even for such a job. Firms tend to like experienced individuals for temping, so that training and getting used to the world of work do not cut into an already limited period of employment.

Therefore, chances are that you will sit there for four months, putting in a fair bit of effort for 1/4 of the minimum wage for an 18-21-year-old on a standard working week. If that floats your boat, there aren't problems as far as I know. But my strong advice would be not to bother. Spend four months doing something enjoyable - travelling, relaxing, touring around catching up with friends, learning a language - rather than being stuck at the JobCentre doing endless CV-creation exercises, dodging round the sanctions they keep trying to impose, and being pushed to apply for jobs which would pay 25% of what you can expect to earn on a decent grad scheme.

Thanks for your reply!

I'm not planning to put much effort in: I was hoping to just show up once every so often (every 2 weeks?) and get given my £104 in between. I'm not actually planning to apply to heaps of jobs...as 1) I'm not really looking for a job as I have plans for most of summer, and 2) I am basically unemployable as I already have plans for most of summer and I am starting a grad scheme in September, so nobody will want to hire me.


I've got a meeting tomorrow so I guess I'll see what it's like - even if I just manage to stay 'in the system' for a few weeks with no effort it's a couple of hundred quid for free, and as I'll be paying heaps of tax my whole life it'll be nice to take a bit back while I can.

[michael321]

(Original post by M_E_X)
Thanks for your reply!

I'm not planning to put much effort in: I was hoping to just show up once every so often (every 2 weeks?) and get given my £104 in between. I'm not actually planning to apply to heaps of jobs...as 1) I'm not really looking for a job as I have plans for most of summer, and 2) I am basically unemployable as I already have plans for most of summer and I am starting a grad scheme in September, so nobody will want to hire me.


I've got a meeting tomorrow so I guess I'll see what it's like - even if I just manage to stay 'in the system' for a few weeks with no effort it's a couple of hundred quid for free, and as I'll be paying heaps of tax my whole life it'll be nice to take a bit back while I can.

You're welcome.

You can try that, but I very highly doubt you will be allowed to just sit there. I may be wrong, but I suspect you will get set targets for how many jobs to apply for, tasks to do and so on. No harm in having a meeting I suppose.

[122025278]

(Original post by M_E_X)
Thanks for your reply!

I'm not planning to put much effort in: I was hoping to just show up once every so often (every 2 weeks?) and get given my £104 in between. I'm not actually planning to apply to heaps of jobs...as 1) I'm not really looking for a job as I have plans for most of summer, and 2) I am basically unemployable as I already have plans for most of summer and I am starting a grad scheme in September, so nobody will want to hire me.


I've got a meeting tomorrow so I guess I'll see what it's like - even if I just manage to stay 'in the system' for a few weeks with no effort it's a couple of hundred quid for free, and as I'll be paying heaps of tax my whole life it'll be nice to take a bit back while I can.

I'm sorry but the millions now of young people on benefits, many of whom are actively not seeking work and who sit on them for what seems like eternity now, people here are telling you not to bother applying? WTF!?

Firstly, they can impose sanctions of course, but these things all take time. They can't even stop your benefit completely unless you persistantly don't comply, that could take months.

People talking about you being at the job centre alot, lol. Do they really thing the government have the money to staff the job centres for every unemployed person (which is over 1 in 4 young people) will be spending hours in a job centre every week, it just doesn't work like that.

You're also in the favourable position (for you) where if you just comply with everything they say employers are unliklely to look at hiring you. Too bad. They absolutely cannot alter your benefit for that.

I was reading sentencing reports from the riots last year and there were so many people up before court, unemployed, with a criminal record who freely admit to spending their JSA feeding their drink or drug or sports clothes habit. And people here really think the job centre are going to go tough on you who will only be on it for a few weeks and is willing to do everything they ask!? Haha. Sounds like jealousy to me.

[Origami Bullets]

You can dodge work from the job centre quite easily if you want to, especially over such a short period of time. You have to apply for 3 jobs per week. Now, if you make sure that your CV isn't very good, then you're unlikely to get invited to interview. If, by some miracle misfortune you do get invited to interview, stating that you have a grad job for September (or, if you feel that the interview is going too well, asking them questions such as "is there an active trade union here? I'd like to get involved" or "how many sick days can an employee take before it results in disciplinary action?") will put them off immediately - you just have to be careful not to be *too* obvious about it, or they can report you to the JC.

It's only after 12 weeks that they start to think about putting the more feckless ones on special schemes. If they know that you have a job starting in a month then they're not going to bother.

[M_E_X]

(Original post by Origami Bullets)
You can dodge work from the job centre quite easily if you want to, especially over such a short period of time. You have to apply for 3 jobs per week. Now, if you make sure that your CV isn't very good, then you're unlikely to get invited to interview. If, by some miracle misfortune you do get invited to interview, stating that you have a grad job for September (or, if you feel that the interview is going too well, asking them questions such as "is there an active trade union here? I'd like to get involved" or "how many sick days can an employee take before it results in disciplinary action?") will put them off immediately - you just have to be careful not to be *too* obvious about it, or they can report you to the JC.

It's only after 12 weeks that they start to think about putting the more feckless ones on special schemes. If they know that you have a job starting in a month then they're not going to bother.

(Original post by 122025278)
I'm sorry but the millions now of young people on benefits, many of whom are actively not seeking work and who sit on them for what seems like eternity now, people here are telling you not to bother applying? WTF!?

Firstly, they can impose sanctions of course, but these things all take time. They can't even stop your benefit completely unless you persistantly don't comply, that could take months.

People talking about you being at the job centre alot, lol. Do they really thing the government have the money to staff the job centres for every unemployed person (which is over 1 in 4 young people) will be spending hours in a job centre every week, it just doesn't work like that.

You're also in the favourable position (for you) where if you just comply with everything they say employers are unliklely to look at hiring you. Too bad. They absolutely cannot alter your benefit for that.

I was reading sentencing reports from the riots last year and there were so many people up before court, unemployed, with a criminal record who freely admit to spending their JSA feeding their drink or drug or sports clothes habit. And people here really think the job centre are going to go tough on you who will only be on it for a few weeks and is willing to do everything they ask!? Haha. Sounds like jealousy to me.

Perfect guys - this is what I wanted to hear! I'll let you both know how it goes

[River85]

Techincally I don' think you can apply for JSA as you have a job offer open. However, even if this is the case, you don't need to tell them you already have a job offer (just sign on then sign off in September

I belive the special schems like Access to Work (if it even still exists under this coalition government and hasn't been replaced) kick in after six months. After three months you're required to do "intensive job searches" (which involves attending the job centre once a week instead of every other week).

In my experience you don't even need to show them any real evidence that you're looking for a job. You're a given a job diary and minimum steps to take each week (e.g. three job searches). Providing you fill in the diary they do a quick job search, you sign on, then send you on your way. So you can easily just lie and say you're applying for jobs when you're not (not saying you should do this, the decision is yours, I'm just saying it's easy to get away with it especially if you're only signed on for a few months).

[M_E_X]

(Original post by River85)
Techincally I don' think you can apply for JSA as you have a job offer open. However, even if this is the case, you don't need to tell them you already have a job offer (just sign on then sign off in September

I belive the special schems like Access to Work (if it even still exists under this coalition government and hasn't been replaced) kick in after six months. After three months you're required to do "intensive job searches" (which involves attending the job centre once a week instead of every other week).

In my experience you don't even need to show them any real evidence that you're looking for a job. You're a given a job diary and minimum steps to take each week (e.g. three job searches). Providing you fill in the diary they do a quick job search, you sign on, then send you on your way. So you can easily just lie and say you're applying for jobs when you're not (not saying you should do this, the decision is yours, I'm just saying it's easy to get away with it especially if you're only signed on for a few months).

Hi River, thank you for your (excellent, as always) reply.

I attended my meeting this morning. I told them my situation, including my open job offer, and they said I was eligible. They gave me a diary like you said, and basically I just need to fill that in satisfactorily for my next meeting in two weeks time. The lady suggested I aim for 10 'attempts' per week - an 'attempt' can be cold-calling somewhere and asking if they have a job available for me, or emailing my CV to someone (again just sending it cold)...basically just making terrible attempts at getting a job. She did say after 13 weeks they step things up a bit, but as this is only a temporary thing, I think I'll be fine.

I don't want to lie on my form, so I will make a few (weak) attempts at finding a job, and record them on the form. I'm not really looking for a job but at the same time I don't want to lie - it's a balance.


e: do you have any more information about how little I can do and "get away with it"? The lady told me today that if I don't fill in my form to a high enough standard / make enough attempts it gets sent to a "decision maker" who can remove my benefits for the two weeks previous - so each time I go in I have to "pass" their standard basically, but I don't really know where the bar is.

[Origami Bullets]

(Original post by M_E_X)
Hi River, thank you for your (excellent, as always) reply.

I attended my meeting this morning. I told them my situation, including my open job offer, and they said I was eligible. They gave me a diary like you said, and basically I just need to fill that in satisfactorily for my next meeting in two weeks time. The lady suggested I aim for 10 'attempts' per week - an 'attempt' can be cold-calling somewhere and asking if they have a job available for me, or emailing my CV to someone (again just sending it cold)...basically just making terrible attempts at getting a job. She did say after 13 weeks they step things up a bit, but as this is only a temporary thing, I think I'll be fine.

I don't want to lie on my form, so I will make a few (weak) attempts at finding a job, and record them on the form. I'm not really looking for a job but at the same time I don't want to lie - it's a balance.


e: do you have any more information about how little I can do and "get away with it"? The lady told me today that if I don't fill in my form to a high enough standard / make enough attempts it gets sent to a "decision maker" who can remove my benefits for the two weeks previous - so each time I go in I have to "pass" their standard basically, but I don't really know where the bar is.

The bar isn't particularly high, tbh. Essentially, it lies at a point that even the most feckless and ill educated should be able to deal with.

There are some more subtle ways of ensuring that you don't get a job, as mentioned above, and apply for jobs where you have neither the skills or experience. Honestly, so long as you don't make it too obvious to the JC that you don't want a job, then they won't be too bothered. Just fill out the form legibly and tell them that you cold called / emailed ten businesses that actually exist. IIRC you can write down "looked at local paper's job section. Didn't find any appropriate jobs to apply for".

I ended up going to the JC once (I envisaged a rather longer period of employment than actually happened), and she looked shocked that I was on time, presentably dressed, polite and had all the paperwork they wanted. Other family members have been on JSA for 6 months without being sent on anything too onerous. The only people I know who have been sent on the grim all-day-every-day things are hopeless alcoholics who haven't been able to hold down a job since the year dot.

As I say, their standards are not high.

[Layena90]

(Original post by Origami Bullets)
The bar isn't particularly high, tbh. Essentially, it lies at a point that even the most feckless and ill educated should be able to deal with.

There are some more subtle ways of ensuring that you don't get a job, as mentioned above, and apply for jobs where you have neither the skills or experience. Honestly, so long as you don't make it too obvious to the JC that you don't want a job, then they won't be too bothered. Just fill out the form legibly and tell them that you cold called / emailed ten businesses that actually exist. IIRC you can write down "looked at local paper's job section. Didn't find any appropriate jobs to apply for".

I ended up going to the JC once (I envisaged a rather longer period of employment than actually happened), and she looked shocked that I was on time, presentably dressed, polite and had all the paperwork they wanted. Other family members have been on JSA for 6 months without being sent on anything too onerous. The only people I know who have been sent on the grim all-day-every-day things are hopeless alcoholics who haven't been able to hold down a job since the year dot.

As I say, their standards are not high.

I've read all of the above and I need help too!! My case might be an unusual one. In 3 months I will graduate and struggling so much finding a decent job. I work for an events agency at the moment but it's part-time and depending on how many events they have and how many shifts i get assigned to. Sometimes it's 4 hours a week and sometimes it's 15, which is below the max. 16 hours required to apply for JSA. So what I'm thinking is to apply for JSA begin of June, but there is a possibility that I might want to go back to college to do intensive a-levels as I'm not sure if I want to continue a career with the course I'm about to finish. And obviously if you're on JSA you won't have to pay for the college fees. Or does this depend on how many hours my course at college will be? Will I still be able to get JSA if I admit to the JC that I want to go back to college? I don't know how these things work and don't want them to think that I'm only applying for JSA because i want to go back to college and not having to pay for it... Any advice here and there?? Would be appreciated!! xxxx