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kev m asks...
i left my job of my own 12 weeks ago,and have tryed to find a new job.i would like to know
if i can clame jsa,,i have being sleeping around famley and frends homes as i have no
accomadation of my own.i normanley stay in digs as useley work away from redcar and
have done so for 4/5 years aney info would be welcome,as i fell i am sliping through the
net
thanks kev m
What we suggest...
Hi kev m, thanks for contacting q2a
We can appreciate how quickly you can start to feel as though your life's falling apart
when you've no work, no money and nowhere settled to live. We can't say definitely what
you'll be entitled to in the way of benefits or housing because we don't know your exact
circumstances but we we'll tell you what you may be able to do to get things back on
track, assuming you're single, have no dependants and are in good health.
Claiming welfare benefits.
You may be eligible to claim Jobseekers Allowance depending on the reason(s) why you
left your last job. This is paid at the rate of £64.30 per week for a single person. To start
a claim you ring 0800 0 55 66 88 for an initial assessment. Calls are free from a landline
or if you go into your local Jobcentre Plus there'll be a phone there you can use free of
charge. Your nearest Jobcentre Plus is at:
· Hadrian House, 81 High Street, Eston, Middlesborough. TS6 9EH. Telephone:
0845 600 2808
You need to make your claim as soon as possible because there is very little scope for
backdating claims. You don't need to have an address or your own accommodation to
make a claim for benefits. You do need a bank/building society/post office account as
any benefit you're entitled to is paid by direct payment into your account except in very
limited circumstances.
If you're refused JSA because they decide you left your last job without 'just cause' they
may not pay you any benefit at all, or pay a reduced amount for a period of time up to a
maximum period of 26 weeks. If this happens you may be able to ask them to look at
their decision again by asking for a revision or supersession, or by appealing.. It's best to
get help if you need to do this because it can be complicated. You can get free,
confidential advice from:
· Middlesbrough Citizens Advice Bureau, 3 Bolckow Street, Middlesbrough. TS1
1TH. Telephone: 08444 994 110. Open Monday-Friday 10am-3pm except Wednesday
until 1pm. Telephone advice is available on Tuesdays and Fridays 1pm-4pm
Finding housing.
If you've nowhere of your own to live you can apply as homeless to Redcar and Cleveland
Council's Homelessness and Housing Advice Service. Local authority and other social
housing is allocated on the basis of need and depending on your own circumstances and
the demand for housing in your area there may be a waiting list. But there would be no
harm in contacting them to see what the local situation is and whether you would be
eligible for help:
· Housing Client Services Team, Belmont House, Rectory Lane. Guisborough.
TS14 7FD. Telephone 01287 612444. E-mail: housing_clientservices@redcar-
cleveland.gov.uk They can
offer appointments in Redcar at the Connexions Offices, Dawson House (behind Redcar
Library), on Monday afternoons.
An alternative is to look for private rented accommodation. You'll find properties to let in
the classified advertisements' section of your local newspapers and in estate agents. You
might also hear of somewhere through your network of family and friends. You usually
need to pay a month's rent in advance and a security deposit. If you're eligible you may
be able to claim a Social Fund loan to pay for the rent in advance. Also, contact the
Housing Client Services Team (details above) to ask if they have a bond deposit scheme
and whether you're eligible, which will sort out the deposit.
When you've found somewhere to live you may be eligible to claim Housing Benefit to pay
your rent. On the assumption that you intend to stay in Redcar and you're a single person
you'll be allowed up to £48 per week for a room in a shared house (this includes 'digs'), or
up to £86 per week for a property which has its own kitchen and bathroom. You may also
be eligible for Council Tax Benefit to pay your Council Tax. Contact the Housing Client
Services Team (details above), for help to start a claim.
Finding work.
Whether or not you qualify for benefit you can use the Jobcentre's services to look for
work. As well as this you can also:
· Check local and national papers in your local library: Redcar Central Library,
Coatham Road, Redcar. Telephone: 01642 489292. Open Monday-Friday 9.30am-7pm
except Thursday 5pm, Saturday 9.30am-12.30pm
· Checkout the local business directories (also in the library) to see what
companies are in your area and the sort of jobs which are likely to be available
· Register with employment agencies
· Ask your network of friends and family
· Check online job vacancy websites and post your CV. If you haven't got your own
access to the Internet, if you join your local library (it's free to join) you can use the
computers there free of charge if you're on benefits. Some websites:
http://www.jobseekers-direct.gov.uk, http://www.monster.co.uk,
http://www.fish4jobs.co.uk
· Brush up your existing skills or learn new ones e.g. literacy and numeracy, ICT.
Adult Education courses are part-time so you'll probably be able to fit studying around job
seeking, and they cost £6 per term if you're receiving benefits. Term starts 21st
September and they're enrolling now. For more information contact the Redcar and
Cleveland Adult Learning Centre, Corporation Road, Redcar. Telephone: 01642 490409 or
475397
· Consider voluntary work. It gets you out of the house, you meet people, it will
pass the time, you learn new skills, and it looks good on your CV. To find out about
volunteering opportunities contact: Redcar and Cleveland Volunteer Development Agency,
2nd Floor, Craigton House, Central Terrace, Redcar. Telephone: 01642 440571. Website:http://www.rcvda.org.uk. You can also look on the national volunteering website:
http://www.do-it.org.uk
As well as getting on with all the boring stuff we've just talked about try to make sure that
you eat regularly, sleep well and get plenty of fresh air and exercise. Meet up with your
friends and family as often as you're able to. This will all help you to stay positive.
We hope you find what we've said in our reply helpful. We know it's not an easy time to
find work at the moment but we wish you success. Please email us again if you think we
can help, about this or anything else.
Best wishes
q2a.
Expert advice and every precaution has been taken to ensure that the information on this page is trustworthy and reliable, but the publishers do not hold themselves responsible for any inaccuracy as information can go out of date very quickly. This page gives general guidance only and should not be treated as a complete and authoritative statement of the law.