arw_86 Posted May 19, 2009 Report Share Posted May 19, 2009 afternoon.as you can probably tell from the time of day it is and me being a trainee heating engineer.....im short of work.im thinking of going on job seekers allowance (....ohhhhh the shaaaame lol) however i just rang to have a chat about it, and basically you need to work less than 16 hours a week to qualify. but i work when i get called by my boss. so i have no way of knowing what hours i will work in the week. for example last week i did 1 day, so 8 hours. this week i am doing nothing, fine. But next week im doing 3 days so 24 hours. the lady said i would keep having to sign on and off every time i worked more than 16 hours. i know its cheeky but couldnt i just say im only working two days or less a week even if i end up on 3? obviously if i go up to 4 days a week working i wouldnt claim still, but signing on and off all the time is a nightmare id imagine.also i cant/dont want to look for another job whilst on this allowance as i quite like my job when i work and im stupidly close to finishing my portfolio and being able to qualify, then hopefully search for a well paying job.sorry if ive gone on a bit but i dont know what to do. i need an income and 50 a week would help but if my boss calls with a few days work (more than 16) do i say yes to him and will the job seekers allowance people know ive done more than 16? im just unsure as to how it all works? i dont want to take the piss but dont want silly hassle over it all.anyone been on it can help? similar situations? or just people with advice. and also anyone else who has questions related or need help then just fire awaycheers adam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronz Posted May 19, 2009 Report Share Posted May 19, 2009 afternoon.as you can probably tell from the time of day it is and me being a trainee heating engineer.....im short of work.im thinking of going on job seekers allowance (....ohhhhh the shaaaame lol) however i just rang to have a chat about it, and basically you need to work less than 16 hours a week to qualify. but i work when i get called by my boss. so i have no way of knowing what hours i will work in the week. for example last week i did 1 day, so 8 hours. this week i am doing nothing, fine. But next week im doing 3 days so 24 hours. the lady said i would keep having to sign on and off every time i worked more than 16 hours. i know its cheeky but couldnt i just say im only working two days or less a week even if i end up on 3?Considering a lot of us on here work full time and pay taxes toward said fund, it is very cheeky.obviously if i go up to 4 days a week working i wouldnt claim still, but signing on and off all the time is a nightmare id imagine.also i cant/dont want to look for another job whilst on this allowance as i quite like my job when i work and im stupidly close to finishing my portfolio and being able to qualify, then hopefully search for a well paying job.So you won't actually be job seeking? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anzo Posted May 19, 2009 Report Share Posted May 19, 2009 Hmmm, bit of an awkward one. But end of the day you rang DWP and they'll know how it works a lot better than we will.Think is it's easy enough to lie about your working hours, but regardless of anything it's still fraud and you'll get a criminal record if you're caught out...and unfortunately it seems like it's the 'semi-honest' ones like yourself that they like to get.I don't think it means your a dishonest person, it just means your a tiny bit over that bracket and you want to benefit from what you pay your taxes for - thats what it's there for at the end of the day.Have a word with your boss about reducing your hours or for the next few weeks keep note of how many hours you work and then average it to see how its looking on a monthly basis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jolfa Posted May 19, 2009 Report Share Posted May 19, 2009 If you're working any hours at all, you don't get the full £50. The benefits people will give you the extra money to make it up to £50...For example - if one week you earned £46, your job seekers allowance would be £4.I've looked into it before when I was working something like 10 hours a week and I was entitled to about a fiver, so I didn't bother.And I've now been out of real work since December but refuse to sign on as a matter of principle, I do nothing but moan about leeches so I can't face being one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OD404 Posted May 19, 2009 Report Share Posted May 19, 2009 It's an unfortunate situation to be in and I certainly don't begrudge you trying to get anything that you would normally be owed for times you don't work enough hours. As Anzo has said, there are places to ring that will be able to advise you far better than the majority of this forum. I do feel you may end up having to continually sign on and off, however the frequency with which you will be doing so may mean you aren't entitled to anything (I think you have to be out of work a set period of time before you can claim). Also they will want you to be looking for another job, and be able to prove that you are too, which may also go against you as you have already said you are happy with the job you have (apart from the hours).From my (very) limited knowledge I would say there isn't much hope of you getting anything, but I'm not the best placed to advise you, so my recommendation would be to speak with someone with more knowledge on this subject.And I've now been out of real work since December but refuse to sign on as a matter of principle, I do nothing but moan about leeches so I can't face being one!I wouldn't call it leeching if you are actively trying to find a job. If you were just going through the motions to stay on the allowance then yeah, I'd have a massive issue with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robwalker Posted May 19, 2009 Report Share Posted May 19, 2009 Get a bar job and work in the evenings... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arw_86 Posted May 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2009 thanks people, you have helped alot! and by the looks of it there is no point in signing on. thanks again.apart from bronz.......mate dunno why you instantly think im scum?.......i was asking for help and would rather not be going onto the dole. i hope you dont get in the position im in. least ive been honest with my whole situation. i could easily sign on as unemployed and pretend to look for jobs n print some stuff off, (ive spoke to people who have had to be on it and they say its that easy?) then work for my boss cash in hand when the work is there.....but i dont want to. so ye try not be so prejudice mate, thats a major problem with the world as it is....your not helping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash-Kennard Posted May 19, 2009 Report Share Posted May 19, 2009 no shame in getting a free 90 quid every 2 weeks. a mate does it. and has been for 2 years hahaha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Si-man Posted May 19, 2009 Report Share Posted May 19, 2009 (edited) And I've now been out of real work since December but refuse to sign on as a matter of principle, I do nothing but moan about leeches so I can't face being one!I'm the same as you, I just cant get myself to do it, kinda a pride thing and I said I would NEVER do it in my life. Kinda doesnt help though when my Dad works at the Job centre so I get hastle every waking hour. hes even looked for jobs for me in engineering, absolutely nothing going, everything is slave labour in a warehouse working with Polish immigrants. No thanksNo as easy to say no to a job these days, as the Job Centre require proof that you havn't been accepted into a company etc. Cant lie like the old days Edited May 19, 2009 by Si-man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaffacakes Posted May 19, 2009 Report Share Posted May 19, 2009 no shame in getting a free 90 quid every 2 weeks. a mate does it. and has been for 2 years hahaha2 years? what a lazy mother f**ker I was on it for 2 months, it was truely terriable. I cant survive on £45 pounds a week. I used to spend it all in 2 days, then be f**ked for 2 weeks.I earn as much in a week now as I got in a month and a half on the doll, Just get a second job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casualjoe Posted May 19, 2009 Report Share Posted May 19, 2009 Im on the dole this summer and I love it. Ive been in full time employment for 5 years, saved up a fair bit of money and was then made redundant and was given more money. I get a slice of all that tax Ive paid back and get to ride all the time, my rent is paid for by the government too so I can quite comfortably live like this for ages, working is the last thing on my mind at the mo. They give me £250 a month and I dont even need that much money..good times! Get as much as you can, most politicians would Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamtrials Posted May 19, 2009 Report Share Posted May 19, 2009 Im on the dole this summer and I love it. Ive been in full time employment for 5 years, saved up a fair bit of money and was then made redundant and was given more money. I get a slice of all that tax Ive paid back and get to ride all the time, my rent is paid for by the government too so I can quite comfortably live like this for ages, working is the last thing on my mind at the mo. They give me £250 a month and I dont even need that much money..good times! Get as much as you can, most politicians would How does it work though, don't you have to prove you're looking for work? And don't they force you back into work after a while? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casualjoe Posted May 19, 2009 Report Share Posted May 19, 2009 With so many people claiming JSA nowadays the jobcentre is always crammed with what some would call people, on top of everybody who has lost their job recently. You go in, sign on, then leave just so people working there can get through everyone on time. Ive been told they start seriously assessing you after a year so Il be ok for this september easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan6061 Posted May 20, 2009 Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 I'm on it, it's pretty handy! £50.95 a week, paid every fotnight... Helps me keep my car running so I can actually go look for a job.All you have to do is go to the job centre every 2 weeks at whatever time they give you to sign on. All I've ever had to do is wait until they call me, sign a little sheet to say that nothing's changed, and I go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadManMike Posted May 20, 2009 Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 If it's anything like it was when I was on it, the places are full of scum and it's a really nasty experience.I only went on it as a last resort thing, luckily I found a job only a few weeks after signing on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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