benefits

[maranatha]

my daughter mary will be leaving school soon aged 18 and will be taking a gap year before uni can she get any goverment benefits [ie unenployment or anything thanks...

[dzug]

The best benefit would be a job of some sort. Any possible benefit (JSA) would depend on her actively looking for one.

[CushtyFred]

Why doesn't your daughter just get a job rather than sit on her arse for a year and let the tax payers fork out for her???

[DaddyBear]

Fred makes a fair point. She can hardly claim Jobseekers allowance given that she's choosing not to seek employment. She really should get a job, it's not as if she won't be wanting more clothes and beer money is it?

[Paulst30]

Since i worked for Jobcentreplus for 5 years i think you need some solid advice instead of an opinion.

She can claim jobseekers allowance, however since she made her self effectively unemployed she will have to sit whats known as a sanction period in which she will recieve no money for at least two weeks. They will decide how long this peroid will last but the usual guide is 2 weeks, after that there no point as she will only aply for loans to ide her over which will need to be paid back.

You cannot apply for a loan (crisis) in the first week of this sanction.


While her claim is eventually sorted out and they go all funny about taking ages to process it, tell her to ask for an iterim payment so she doesnt need to apply for a loan.

Also make them work for her, and ask about the training courses that are on offer too, its never publicised, however there are loads on offer to people that want to do it.

Hope that helps

[themas]

Yes, but as dzug says, to get JSA she has to be actively looking for a job - and willing to go to interviews and take a job if offered one.

So it really depends on what she wants to do with her gap year.

[Paulst30]

I've sat on both sides on the counter and i know the rules so i used them against them when i left and had my study gap year too. Yes you need to be available for work, but tthat only means that your not sick, it gives an admin officer in the JSA dept more hassle to get you a job than it is just to get you to sign on.

If they suspect that your working while claiming then they get tight, however i sat on JSA for 18months and never went for one interview or even was considered for any jobs. They knew where i used to work so the rules should have tighter for me knowing that i knew what they knew, did they care? no..

With all that said, my advice would be to get a job just plainly because theres a horrible stigma attached to being on the social and being in that situation i expereinced things i'd rather forget and its much better working you earn a lot more respect if you do.

I know im going on but try telling an employer you were claiming benefits for a year and they won't take it lightly.

My advice is get a job and forget about the sad money you get off the state not to mention the disrespect.

[alijangra]

I always thought the point of a gap year was to go travelling (and work abroad) or work for a year to save some cash and gain experience. I sincerely hope your enquiry about JSA is for the interim period between leaving school and gaining employment (quickly!!). Plenty bar or shop work on the go, or caring. No need to be unemployed for long.

[lady_p_gold]

So you mean she is taking a year's holiday and is expecting us to work and pay for it ??

[Pippa68]

I thought that a gap year was something saved for..surely by the person taking the gap year or the parents?

That is of course if the gap year is spent travelling. If they are staying at home the best way to spend a gap year is to work. As has already been said, that will look much better on the CV.