The Calculation of Contribution Based JSA for Temporary Workers

Summary

A request was made to the Department of Health and Social Care regarding how temporary employment income affects Contribution Based Job Seekers Allowance eligibility. The authority responded that the information is not held by them and may be held by the Treasury.

Key Facts

• The request concerned the calculation of Contribution Based JSA for individuals taking temporary jobs.
• The Department of Health and Social Care stated they do not hold the requested information.
• The authority suggested the information may be held by the Treasury.
• The response was issued under Section 11(3)a of the Freedom of Information Act 2015.
• The request was closed on 12 June 2024.

Data Disclosed

• 3912065
• 2024-06-11
• 2024-06-12
• Section 11(3)a
• Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015

Exemptions Cited

• Section 11(3)a of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Information not held)

Original Request

A person who qualifies for contribution-based Job Seekers Allowance takes on occasional temporary jobs while actively searching for a permanent roles. During his periods of temporary employment, he opts out of Job Seekers Allowance. And during the periods between jobs, he signs back up for the allowance. How, precisely, does earning money from a temporary job, both before and after signing up for job seekers allowance, impact an individual's eligibility for JSA payments? Is there a designated period of time, either before or after registering for Job Seekers Allowance, in which any income earned by the individual will be subtracted from their JSA benefit? And if so, what specifically determines the length of these time frames?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Chief Officer: Paul Richardson Freedom of Information Team First Floor Belgravia House Circular Road Douglas IM1 1AE

Our ref: 3912065 11 June 2024

Dear ###

We write further to your request received 11 June 2024, which states:

"A person who qualifies for contribution-based Job Seekers Allowance takes on occasional temporary jobs while actively searching for a permanent roles.

During his periods of temporary employment, he opts out of Job Seekers Allowance. And during the periods between jobs, he signs back up for the allowance.

How, precisely, does earning money from a temporary job, both before and after signing up for job seekers allowance, impact an individual's eligibility for JSA payments?

Is there a designated period of time, either before or after registering for Job Seekers Allowance, in which any income earned by the individual will be subtracted from their JSA benefit? And if so, what specifically determines the length of these time frames?"

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Department of Health and Social Care (the Department) is unable to provide the information that you have requested. This is in line with Section 11(3)a of the Act, as a practical refusal reason applies; namely we do not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested as it may be held by the Treasury.

Please quote the reference number 3912065 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will

be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.