In order to obtain Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) you must enter into a Jobseeker's agreement which is made between you and a DWP employment officer. The
agreement contains;
- your name; and
- the number of hours and agreed pattern of hours that you are available for (this is if you have you restricted your hours); and
- any restrictions (if applicable- see below) on your availability; and
- a description of the type of work that you are looking for; and
- the action that you will take to seek employment and to improve your chances of finding employment; and
- the length of any permitted period during which you can specify that you are only available for work in your usual occupation and/or at the level of
pay that you are used to receiving; and
- a statement of your rights of appeal should you disagree with the contents of the agreement; and
- the date of the agreement.
The agreement should be in writing and signed by you and the employment officer. You should be given a copy.
Restrictions
You are able to place restrictions on your availability if any of the following apply:
- you cannot be available at once because you have caring responsibilities; or
- you cannot be available at once because you do voluntary work; or
- you cannot be available at once because you are providing a service; or
- you cannot be available at once because you are required to give notice to terminate your employment; or
- you are in the first thirteen weeks of a claim and have limited your acailability to your "usual occupation"; or
- you are in the first six months of a claim and you have restricted the rate of pay for which you are prepared to work; or
- you are on short time or have been laid off, in these circumstances you can restrict your availability to casual employment that is within daily
travelling disatance of your home, you must also agree to resume at once the employment that you have been laid off (or put on short time) from; or
- you have specified the hours during which you are available for work, the example given is of a claimant who has specified that she is available from
Monday to Saturday and from 8am to 5pm; or
- you have caring responsibilities and you have restricted your availability to between 16 and 40 hours per week; or
- you have a physical or mental disability, in these circumstances you are able to restrict your availability in any way; or
- you have sincerely held religious beliefs or a conscientious objection and have restricted your availability to work that does not conflict with those
principles.
