Casual work and Job Seekers Allowance

onlyasuggestion

I recently got some casual employment that equates to maybe working one or two days a month at events, nothing regular or predictable.

When I went to the social welfare office about this they gave me a form (UP 16) for my employer to fill in stating number of days worked a week, number of hours a day etc.

None of this seems terrribly applicable to my scenario, is there another form I should have received instead?

Mrs OBumble

Don't think so ... Welfare is a very one-size-fits-all kind of place.

Just get the employer to write "Casual hours, as required by customers" or whatever on it.

vikingdub

JustMary wrote: »

Don't think so ... Welfare is a very one-size-fits-all kind of place.

Just get the employer to write "Casual hours, as required by customers" or whatever on it.

Don't bother with the form, simply inform you local office, after the fact, that you got a day of casual work, they will just deduct it from the following weeks' payment.

I did this with no problem, in fact I got the distinct impression that they really did not want to know about an odd day here and there.

If the work becomes regular they will press you to complete the form.

Do keep in mind following

1) You are supposed to declare all income to revenue and 2) casual income could bring you above the threshold for means tested Job Seekers Allowance.

Best of luck

onlyasuggestion

Yeah I kinda figured after I got the form that I should have waited until I started the work but now I have this thing that needs to be returned in 7 days! What's the usual outcome for not returning a form in the time allotted anyway? Suspension of your claim?

I'm just gonna go in and talk to them about it and see if they still insist on the forms. They've forms for everything and sense for nothing!

Thanks for the replies.

vikingdub

onlyasuggestion wrote: »

Yeah I kinda figured after I got the form that I should have waited until I started the work but now I have this thing that needs to be returned in 7 days! What's the usual outcome for not returning a form in the time allotted anyway? Suspension of your claim?

I'm just gonna go in and talk to them about it and see if they still insist on the forms. They've forms for everything and sense for nothing!

Thanks for the replies.

I doubt they even remember giving it to you. If they ask any questions, just tell them that there is no firm offer of employment and that you have been told by the employer that if anything comes up they will call you. Perfectly reasonable in the current environment.

onlyasuggestion

Ah, no joy. They're insisting on me getting the form filled out even after the fact. I haven't even got a single payment from the yet and they're already costing me in travel expenses. Cheers Dep. of social protection...

Cheers for the replies anyway.

vikingdub

onlyasuggestion wrote: »

Ah, no joy. They're insisting on me getting the form filled out even after the fact. I haven't even got a single payment from the yet and they're already costing me in travel expenses. Cheers Dep. of social protection...

Cheers for the replies anyway.

Well do that, have no futher contact with Social Welfare until you have actually been PAID for any casual work you do, then and only then bring get the form completed, having said that your employer may not be willing to complete it. Play it by ear, just agree with Social Welfare that you will let them know if/when you get any work and that you will post the form at that time.