job seekers allowance

I don't think there's a set period of time, but they can impose sanctions if you have made yourself voluntarily unemployed, so that you don't receive benefit for anything up to 26 weeks.

I'm not 100% sure on this though!

Depends on the circumstances, and I know there's been a recent tightening in this regard.

However, the sanction is very seldom (if ever) total.

Thank you so much

my fil walked out on his job, saying he will be able to sign on in 6 weeks and it isnt a biggy

Just bothered about mil relly

so thank you all very much

There is no period as such, the client makes a claim and is paid from day 1, meanwhile the reasons for leaving are sent to a decision maker who will decide if it was a good reason, if they decide it wasnt a good reason they will sanction for up to 6 months depending on the reason given. they changed it as people leave for different reasons and its unfair to discriminate against everyone. the decision makers are harsh though, you need to supply lots of info (ONE is right they are tightening up on this at the mo)

The bottom line though, is that other than exceptional circumstances... Messing up a New Deal placement 3 times on the trot being an example... You'll effectively never, within reason, be put on the street.

Does the voice of experience speak there? messing up 3 new deal placements would lose you your benefit for a hefty time indeedy.

Do not wait to claim, I have no idea where the idea that you have to wait to make a claim if you walk out of a job but loads of people I see every week say it and they all lose out on money by delaying the claim. Even if he is disallowed because of it he will be paid until a decision is made, this can take a while so don't delay. Hope this helps, I'm a benefit adviser for the jobcentre so I know my stuff, any advice let me know.

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Nah, used to work in a resource centre for the unemployed.

I didn't mean to give the impression that anyone should delay making a claim if I'm guilty there.

Nope you didnt give that impression, good advice from you im a lone parent advisor for jobcentre but used to be jsa, years ag that used to be the case but its been this way over 10 years now, it used to be 6 months before you could claim whatever the reason.

Thank you alll so much i will tell him to go job center tomorrow then and sign on,

see what happens,

To make a claim he will need to call the contact centre, but the number differs, best to get on the jobcentre website, the jobcentre will just send him away until he has called. once he calls they will book an appointment.

While we're on the subject - what about fixed term contracts. My dad is on JSA, and for the past three months he's been on a contract which is nearing its end - does he have to wait again or does he get JSA again immediately?

He'll get it straight away.

Thanks Zoe