Zero-Hour Contracts...

[sandyRoe]

If someone who's on one of these doesn't get any work in a particular week what are they to live on?

[maggiebee]

That one has puzzles me too Sandy. I'm assuming that if they don't get work on any particular week they will receive benefits?

[sandyRoe]

That's likely it. At least the claimant wouldn't have any problems establishing that they were looking for work.

[Sipowicz]

Good point Sandy!

[woofgang]

It may not work like that. Some people don't want to work every week, some people have other jobs, may also be self employed and so on. As I have explained before, when I worked in the NHS, we used zero hour contracts to keep staff who didn't want to do regular hours on the books. One lady used to live with her husband in Hong Kong, another was self employed, another one owned and ran a hotel with her husband. If they wanted to work, they would contact us and say when they were free, if we wanted them to work, we would contact them and ask if they were available. keeping them on a zero hours contract meant that they didn't have to do the NHS induction package every time they came to work for us, and meant that their names stayed on the payroll so there was no delay in paying them.

[DrFilth]

sandyrow try and see if any people that you know work for an agency it will open your eyes

[pixie373]

I've worked on them, but never been short of work. As others have said, working tax credits are there to increase your income if you are working, so you would be entitled to some or more if your income goes down.

[jazzyjen]

I live on saving and thin air! Not entitled to any benefits.

[pixie373]

How are savings thin air?

[boxtops]

We don't get benefits if either of us isn't offered any work in a particular week. We're not job-seeking, we have job contracts, just zero hours. It's a bit like being a temp - no work, no pay.

[pixie373]

Yes, but it depends what you earn overall. If you are earning below whatever the threshhold is, it can be topped up by working tax. I do know people who claim it, and it is worked out on overall earnings, so the amount changes. It would depend how it averages out.

[jazzyjen]

I mean I live off my savings (I have just over the means tested limits--hence why I`m not entitled to any benefits) and spend absolutely nothing that is`nt essential. I tend to get about 5 hours a week of work on a supply basis, meaning an income of just under 50 pounds per week. Fortunately I had a reasonable job in my past before getting made redundant and managed to pay off the mortgage and put the savings aside.

[tamborine]

You gotta deplete ALL your assets before you can share the benefits cushion.

[chelle7272]

Some of the employees we have on these contracts are on benefits but can earn up to a small amount without deduction. if they earn over it gets deducted from the benefit.
We have had several people use the job as a a first step back to work after time out of work for having a baby or after leaving college for example

[boxtops]

This is about eligibility, quite a useful tool http://www.turn2us.org.uk/be_aware/be_aware_in-work_benefits/zero-hours_contract.aspx

[factor-fiction]

I have days and weeks without pay (I'm lucky to get an hour's tutoring work a week in the summer holidays), but overall it suits me as it gives flexibility to me too However, I would not have been able to manage when we had a mortgage, children and school fees to pay, and luckily I never had to consider zero hours contracts.