Transitions candidate worse off with work than on benefits.

Transitions paid this person £300 for consultancy Transitions publicity design work spread over 3 weeks. The response from the Benefits agency was to cut 100% of his JSA and Housing benefit. We assisted him to complain. The final outcome was that he was £30.04 worse off.

As he says below  

"Just wanted to update you on the ordeal I had with Jobcentre and my Council. Good news is, it's all sorted.  I ended up only slightly worse off. As you can see, I ended up being £30 worse off doing part-time work. This raises the question whether we can blame people for not finding work or not declaring their part-time work when they're going to be worse off? Also is it worth the hassle?

It's an interesting observation on how benefits are calculated. You could post this on twitter/facebook/website if you want too (as long as it's made anonymous)." 

 Here's how it's calculated:

JSA: £72.40 a week (suspended for 3 weeks)

Housing Benefit: £79.29 a week (reduced to £50.47 a week for 3 weeks)

Income: £72.40 a week on JSA (£100 a week for three weeks doing part-time job)

On JSA

Income: £72.40 + £79.29 = £151.69

Doing Part-Time Job

Income: (£100 + £50.47) - £28.82 = £121.65 (the £28.82 is to cover rent on the reduced housing benefit)

Gain/Loss: (-£30.04)

Warm regards,
PD