Working and claiming social welfare

emilymemily

Hi, im an NQT, Ive been signing on since finishing college in May but ive just been offered a 2 week teaching job in a Summer camp and I wont get paid until the end of the 2 weeks. Ill have to travel 2 hours each way to get there which I dont mind except for the travel costs as public transport is so expensive.
Im concerned as im on social welfare and wondering how this will interfere with my payments. If I take the job and then declare it to s/w they will stop my payments for the 2 weeks meaning I will have no money to travel to work. I also dont know how long it will be before I can return to getting my payment as I assume they will have to process the whole thing again. Does anyone have experience with this?
Thanks

racso1975

I did it a number of years ago. Went to sw office explained everything. Given form to fill out etc not sure if this is always the case but got welfare payment the week I worked and was deducted the following week.

racso1975

There is also a forum on here in relation to social welfare etc and it may be more suitable to ask there

Cash_Q

Tread very carefully with them...once you tell them about it there's no "if I take the job..." - if you tell them about it and then *don't* take the job they can cut you off, because the terms of your payment are based on you being actively seeking and available for work, and accepting any work offered to you.

Do you have any savings that you could fall back on if you take up this work and then face a long wait for your claim to be reinstated?

They might just put a temporary hold on your claim for the two weeks, this would make the most sense, but just be very careful about how you word things when you talk to them.

sullivlo

emilymemily wrote: »

Hi, im an NQT, Ive been signing on since finishing college in May but ive just been offered a 2 week teaching job in a Summer camp and I wont get paid until the end of the 2 weeks. Ill have to travel 2 hours each way to get there which I dont mind except for the travel costs as public transport is so expensive.
Im concerned as im on social welfare and wondering how this will interfere with my payments. If I take the job and then declare it to s/w they will stop my payments for the 2 weeks meaning I will have no money to travel to work. I also dont know how long it will be before I can return to getting my payment as I assume they will have to process the whole thing again. Does anyone have experience with this?
Thanks

Go talk to them. They can put a temporary hold on your claim. They can also advise you on supplementary welfare - you may not be eligible but no harm in asking.
(I’m a PME signed on and have a temp hold on my claim while correcting JC scripts)

emilymemily

Thanks I declared it today, they will suspend my payments for the two weeks. Im just wondering, as its full time and I will be earning 400 - 500 a week, will that be means tested and effect my next payment?

Cash_Q

emilymemily wrote:

Thanks I declared it today, they will suspend my payments for the two weeks. Im just wondering, as its full time and I will be earning 400 - 500 a week, will that be means tested and effect my next payment?

No, only if you were a 'qualified adult' on someone else's claim, but if your claim is your own then they only means test savings above 10,000 when calculating your rate of payment. Best of luck with the summer camp, I'm glad to hear they took the logical approach to this!

emilymemily

Cash_Q wrote: »

No, only if you were a 'qualified adult' on someone else's claim, but if your claim is your own then they only means test savings above 10,000 when calculating your rate of payment. Best of luck with the summer camp, I'm glad to hear they took the logical approach to this!

Thank you, thats great to hear.