Can you claim job seekers allowance whilst doing work experience?
Kate L asked:
Hi Im struggling to find a job as I keep getting told that I do not have enough experience. Is it possible that I can claim job seekers allowance whilst doing unpaid work experience in order to build up my cv?
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Hi Im struggling to find a job as I keep getting told that I do not have enough experience. Is it possible that I can claim job seekers allowance whilst doing unpaid work experience in order to build up my cv?
January 15th, 2009 at 2:56 am
You can do voluntary work [non-paid]- providng proof you are and yes claim JSA [job seekers allowance ].
January 17th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Unpaid work will not affect your benefits.
January 20th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
yes you can claim it if you are entitled to it as Works Experience is usually unpaid.
January 23rd, 2009 at 2:12 pm
This will depend on the type of work you are proposing to do.
If you are doing unpaid for a charity then there is no problem with this. You just need to let the jobcentre know, but it won’t affect your benefits.
If however you work for a standard employer, but are simply working for nothing the jobcentre will take a different view as it could be considered that you should be being paid for the work that you do.
A decision maker will make a decision on the exact circumstances of your work, but if they decide that you should be being paid for the work, then they will take notional earnings in to account on your claim, even though you may not be being paid for the work. The jobcentre will not condone an employer from not paying their correct wages while their staff work for nothing.