do you have to work every week to qualify for FIS

[bjdld]

We are getting FIS at the moment but my husband's hours are being reduced. he will only be working every second week, so week on week off. Would he still be entitled to get FIS (we have to reapply in next month)
On the websites it saids you have to work 19 hours per week(38 hours per fortnight) but it is unclear whether you have to be working every week. We would prefer to stay on FIS and not sign on as this reduction of hours is temporary and, if I have worked it out right, we would be better off getting FIS not the jobseekers benefit.

 

[michaelm]

On the websites it saids you have to work 19 hours per week(38 hours per fortnight) but it is unclear whether you have to be working every week. We would prefer to stay on FIS and not sign on . .

I tend not to ask for unnecessary clarifications that I may not like the answer to. If it were me and I had a preference for FIS over JSB I would apply for that and ask my employer to complete their section of the FIS form re hours per week on the basis of the average weekly hours for the foreseeable (short-term) future.

 

[Welfarite]

The rules are fairly specific and it would not be good advice to ignore them; if the employment changes to working below 19 hours a week or 38 a fortnight, then you are not entitled to FIS. You must notify FIS.

 

[bjdld]

We have notified fis but are waiting for them to get back to us. Sorry if i seem stupid but i just dont understand the 38 hours a fornight - is that an average of 38 hours (he would be working 42 hours every fornight on the week on) or do you have to be working some hours every week?

 

[Welfarite]

What it means is that a person could work 38 hours in one week and none on another, or 30 one week, 8 another, or other combinations and still qualify fior FIS

 

[michaelm]

or do you have to be working some hours every week?

As Welfarite's link (snippet below) shows, the answer is No. No need to over think yourself out of entitlements.

* Be an employee in full-time remunerative employment for 38 hours or more every fortnight (19 hours per week) which is likely to last for at least 3 months.