OH redundacy while I'm on Mat leave

confusion_is_nothing_new

Morning everybody
Newbie posting here so please be gentle with me!
Just looking for a bit of advice please if anybody has time....

I am currently on Maternity Leave, my third baby is due 21/06/2010 and I was struggling with the hours/commute etc. I am claiming Maternity Allowance of £124 per week. The job I am on leave from is a Fixed Term Appointment, due to end 23/05/2010. I am due back from Mat Leave on 10/01/2010.
My DH works 16-20 hours per week BUT we have found out that he is possibly facing redundancy which has thrown a bit of a spanner in the works. We don't think it will be til after Xmas but of course we need to start thinking about things asap. He has been hunting for another job for a while anyway but we need to prepare ourselves for the worst in case he hasn't secured other employment by the time it happens.
We won't be able to survive on just my wage and Tax Credits when I go back to work in January and so I had a quick check on the entitledto website which has shown that actually we would be better off claiming JSA as a couple once my Maternity Leave ends, rather than me going back to work. I do want to go back to work but I would really like to get another job closer to home as the commute is a nightmare and with a 6 month old, a toddler and a 9 year old I will be worn out enough without all the travelling as well!! The train ticket costs an absolute fortune as well, but don't get me started on that...!!
Basically, I was wondering, does anybody know if, if the worst happens and we have to claim JSA for a while, would I be penalised for voluntarily giving up my job? My husband would be making the claim for us, and because I have 'caring responsibilities' due to the kids, I am not asked to sign on every fortnight like he would, nor do I have to be actively seeking work like he will (although of course I am). I know this from the last time we had to sign on for 4 months.

I hope some of you kind souls may have the answer to my question.
Many thanks in advance, and also for reading my post!!

confusion_is_nothing_new

Sorry I know it's a bit cheeky to bump my own thread but I'm really hoping someone might have an answer to my question!

Oldernotwiser

Could you check through your dates please because at the moment they don't seem to make sense.

confusion_is_nothing_new

Sorry if the if I have messed up the dates, they are as follows:

Baby due 21st June 2010
OH possibly being made redundant around December 2010
I am due back from Maternity Leave on 10th January 2011
My contract of work is due to end 23rd May 2011

Apologies my pregnancy brain has well and truly turned to mush!!

I think it may also be worth mentioning that my DH won't be getting any redundancy pay as he is on a zero hour contract.

I hope this makes sense. Many thanks.

Oldernotwiser

Thanks for clarifying that.

Personally, if your husband isn't likely to be made redundant for eight months, I wouldn't worry too much about JSA as these things can become a self fulfilling prophecy and who knows what changes a future government might make to the system anyway. In fact, with any luck he might be able to get a full time job which would obviously be better than the situation he's in now.

confusion_is_nothing_new

Thank you - it's so easy to get caught up in the 'what-if's' that I must remind myself it's not necessarily all doom and gloom.
TBH if he hasn't found a full time job by XMAS he's going to get his bum well and truly kicked by me so fingers crossed we won't even need to think about JSA!!

confusion_is_nothing_new

jdturk wrote: »

I hope you are joking about sticking all the pressure on him, why don't you come back from Maternity leave early and go get a job?

Thanks for the encouragement!! The reason I will kick his bum if he doesn't get a full time job by Xmas is that he himself is desperate to get one and he is very down hearted that every application gets no response. He himself has admitted that he needs to pull himself together and focus.
I meant it in a light-hearted way.
We are no better off financially if I return from Maternity Leave early as anything extra I earn is eaten up by train fares. You may also want to note that I do actually have a job that I am on leave from and I stated that I am looking for a job closer to home. If the right one turns up of course I will accept it as long as my baby is over 3 months and able to attend nursery.

I thought we were supposed to help each other on here but that really wasn't a very helpful comment.

confusion_is_nothing_new

jdturk wrote: »

It was a helpful comment but you saying your gonna kick his !!!! even though he is trying and getting rejected, if he was being a lazy git I would understand you kicking his !!!! but when he is trying seems a bit harsh.

So what your saying is that you returning to full time work early would not make you better off? I find that hard to believe this is the case, also I wrote my response of your first post where you have put 23/05/10 which is why I questionned going back to work early...I have now seen the other post but I still can't believe that you wouldn't be better of working full time and your OH staying more at home to look after the baby

My job isn't full-time, it's part time. DH really wants a full time job, and I am not being harsh on him. We could have stayed on JSA but we both took part time jobs as we wanted to be working rather than on JSA but it seems that as he may be facing redundancy we are having to prepare ourselves.
Once I have had the baby I will certainly be looking for work, whether it be full time or part time, as long as the travelling costs aren't excessive. DH needs to be working for his own peace of mind, which he fully agrees with. He doesn't think I am being harsh, so why should you?
I am just trying to do what's best for my family.