Voluntary redunancy and benefits question

Debbief_2

Hiya, im a bit of a newbie to the site so hope i follow everything properly, My Hubby works for a well know car manufacturer in north east, 800 are getting made redundant by april, hes just text to say they are offering a severance package of £3000 plus 2wks pay for every year worked, for my hubby it would mean about £9000 ish,
Its a dull job but it pays the bills so on one hand hubbys thinking leave now find something else or train for something but if he does this what are we entitiled to do you get any benefits or do you get nothing, or does he stay there and hope he doesnt get made redundant, hope this makes sense everyone!! Ps at the mo im training to be a teaching assistant ill be ready for fulltime work come sept, at the mo i childmind but that just covers food etc not bills, Thanks in advance x

Newly_retired

I suggest he goes to see his local CAB who can advise on this. From what you have said it sounds as though he isn't going to be eligible for any redundancy payments if he leaves for another job now before he has been given notice. If he is being made redundant there are separate rules about when you can leave or another job and still get redundancy pay. If he is given notice and works his notice or gets pay in lieu he will be eligible for either statutory redundancy or the firm's offer if that is better.
As far as benefits are concerned he should be almost certainly be eligible for contribution-based JobSeekers Allowance if he is unemployed, possibly income based JSA if you are on a low wage, Housing Benefit if you rent and Council Tax Benefit. Then you can claim Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit if you don't already.

karenann37

Hi Debbie
My hubby too works for this company, he's put his forms in to get the redundancy.
How long has your hubby worked for the company, because £9000 doesn't sound a lot.
I have been to CAB and have been told my hubby can claim income based jobseekers allowance straight away. They are classing Voluntary redundancy as compulsory just now, so all benefits will start from day 1 of unemployment.
As we have a mortgage we can claim interest payments after 13 weeks, also council tax benefit and child tax credits (we have 4 children).
They only count the statutory redundancy pay of £5950 when working out what you are entitled to.
I work 12 hours a week, which I was going to up to 16 to get WTC, but have been advised I will be better off not doing so.
Hope this helps, and good luck to you both...

McKneff

Please dont change the colour, pink is very difficult to read!!!