Recently unemployed + ill - JSA?

MishterTea

Hi all,

Hoping someone can advise/shed some light on my current situation. I'm a bit lost.

The long version:

The company I worked for went insolvent at the end of last month - I haven't been paid for 10 weeks now. I'm expecting to receive the claim form from the liquidators this week to at least claim back from the National Insurance Fund. I doubt I'll see that money until the end of January at the best.

The team from the previous employment have all stuck together and we're pursuing employment as a team. In fact today, some of the guys are having a meeting with some company bosses regarding them setting us up as a subsidiary of them. I'm not counting my chickens though and have to consider my immediate future as unemployed.

The problem is that I'm currently far from well. I've had some mystery illness for the past 9 months which the doctors are yet to diagnose. It centres around lower-right abdominal pain that causes varying degrees of nausea throughout the day. I've had an ultrasound scan, blood tests, gastroscopy, MRCP, more blood tests and everything has come back normal so far. I'm seeing the consultant on Friday to see what's next - they've increased my priority now they're aware of the work situation. The upshot is that it's currently a struggle to leave the house due to the nausea.

This illness did cause me to have time off my previous job but my employer was understanding and I battled through as once at work I felt reasonably comfortable (I'm a programmer so sitting infront of a computer all day isn't physically strenuous).

As I'm unemployed the obvious step is to claim JSA, especially as I have unemployment mortgage protection insurance that I can claim once on it. My concern is that most of the time I don't feel well enough to look for work, yet alone having to attend fortnightly review meetings with the JSA. But at the same time I'm "clinically well".

This is where I'm stuck, really stuck - I should get somewhere in the region of £800 per month from JSA and MPPI but I don't feel I can sign up to JSA as I fear I can't keep my end of the bargain.

The short version:

- Company I worked for went into liquidation
- I have some undiagnosed long-term illness that makes looking for work difficult
- I need to claim JSA, especially as I get unemployment mortgage protection with that
- Don't feel well enough to look for work/attend interviews

Any advice/thoughts/experiences would be massively appreciated as this is worrying me considerably.

Many thanks,
- Richard

Horace

If you have a long-term illness as yet undiagnosed but you are receiving some form of treatment then go to the jobcentre and claim JSA, arrange then to see a disability employment advisor. Or you could try claiming incapacity benefit again you would need the jobcentre for this. https://www.directgov.uk - I think that's the website to use.

computershack

Horace wrote: »

If you have a long-term illness as yet undiagnosed but you are receiving some form of treatment then go to the jobcentre and claim JSA, arrange then to see a disability employment advisor. Or you could try claiming incapacity benefit again you would need the jobcentre for this. www.directgov.uk - I think that's the website to use.

Incapacity benefit is no longer for new claimants. Claim ESA instead.

MishterTea

Thanks for the feedback.

I've filled in the online application form for contribution-based JSA and await a phone call. Hopefully I'm well enough for the initial interview. I guess they'll be able to advise me from there..