Can I get jobseekers after trying a job?

Angiewoo

Hi,

I'm hoping someone can offer me advice on my slightly unusual situation.

I left my job nearly two years ago to travel. I returned 9 months ago and started looking for work. I did not want to claim any benefits, as I had some savings and have had to sign on before and really can't bear the judgement that you feel from the job centre. I got a job as a statistical officer with the DWP in May. This was a big change in career direction for me, as my background is in psychology. Unfortunately I ended up leaving after only 3 days as:

a) The commute was longer than expected, 1.5 hours each way on public transport.
b) The job was extremely technical and anyone else I met with the same job title had a maths/stats background.
c) I realised that this was not the job for me and in fact I wanted to work in psychology research. I know I could have stayed in the role while job hunting, but at this point the DWP would still have been investing THEIR money in MY training, when I knew I would never stay long enough for them to benefit! ie it would take at least 2 months before I was doing any useful work, which would have cost them thousands of pounds and delayed their chance to employ a replacement.

I know these all sound like real namby-pamby excuses, but I genuinely felt like a traitor by staying and wasting everyone's time training me when I had so quickly realised that this was not the place for me!

My suspicion is that I won't be entitled to benefits as I left a job voluntarily, despite the fact that I have been unemployed before that and not claimed jobseekers and that the stupidest thing I did was to apply for the job in the first place. All my own stupid fault sadly!

If anyone can confirm this or give me some more advice or info I would really appreciate it.

Thanks all! xxx

seven-day-weekend

You will probably have a sanction on Jobseekers' Allowance for up to 26 weeks as you have left your job voluntarily.

oldmotherreilly

But you should still put in a claim for JSA if you are actively seeking and available for employment. JCP will ask you to complete a form giving details of why you handed in your notice and then this will be passed to a decision maker to look at. If they feel they need more information, either from yourself or your former employer, they will write out to you/them for this info. They will then make a decision and as seven day weekend says, can sanction (ie not pay JSA) for UP TO 26 weeks. JSA is paid until the Decision Maker has made a decision. If a sanction is then imposed, you could try to claim Hardship (a reduced payment).

Angiewoo

Thanks for the replies!

I was thinking about not claiming, but I'll take your advice and claim anyway, hopefully they'll choose not to go with the full 26 weeks.