JSA help.(long one)

ngs_2

Hey guys,

This is my first post about benefits because ive been looking online and im getting even more confused than i started off.

OK, basically i worked full time with the same company for 4 years and in that time, my job became unbearable as i was being bullied, treated unfairly and i became stressed so much i went on the sick last Sep for 1 month, so i forced myself to go back to work as i really didnt want to be unemployed. However when i went back, i asked to be changed to part time hours to see if this would help my situation and i tried so hard to stick it but i made myself worse that worse than in fact i was having panic attacks at the thought of going back to work there. So again i went to my GP who signed me off in March this year. I was getting full pay for the first month then ive been put onto SSP. Which is £79.15 per week. I have spoken to my GP in detail about the reasons behind my work basically destroying my life and she said i was to quit as the place was making me ill and told me to go to the jobcentre. Now when she said this to me my first thought was no, that means ill be unemployed and i cant afford too as i have a morgage to pay.Partly due to my pride, As time has gone by i have realised that my only option is to quit the job, as i said its making my life a living nightmare. So GP signed me off for another 4 weeks at the end of June and i called up the job centre who told me that i couldnt try claim anything until i was unemployed which is fine however they said that i would only be able to know if i am entitled to JSA if i quit my job and this is making me feel even more stressed as im scared i wont get anything, i basically spend about 2 hours on the phone to so many different people telling me different things. 1. that i would have to claim esa (i said im not disabled i want to work, i just cant at my current job) 2. hung up after putting me on hold for 10 mins 3. That i wouldnt get anything as i would have given up my job. So what do i do next? Am i entitled to anything? I have read that if i give up work due to stress related and the GP has told me to do this, then it would be looked into.

A bit of background about me is im over 25, have never been unemployed in my life. Even when i was at college i had 2 part time jobs to support me. Im single however i have a dog I have a morgage which is £500 per month council tax which is £100 per month as i get single persons discount. Also i have factors fees which include my building insurence which is £40 per month. I also have other things to pay such as contract phone, cable however these are the least of my problems right now.I cant cancel them as they are in contract for another 2 months after that ill be getting rid of them till im in a better position. food/utility bills per month which i can scrap by on about £50 a month. So any advice as to what i do next? also reading some posts before i joined i seen people suggesting selling their house. I wish i was in that position to do that as i have looked into it But as i bought this house when the market was very expensive my house has gone down in value by £30k in 3 years so if i sold the place i would be at a loss as it wouldnt cover the amount outstanding on the morgage.

To pay all my payments for the last couple of months my parents have been helping me by giving me money to pay bills but they are retired and cant afford to give me anymore. I also sold some things to cash converters (what a rip off) last month to pay the council tax and to get food. Now that moneys ran out.

So sorry for the long winded story lol. Just thought i would give as much information as poss. Thanks in advance for any advice.

viktory

If you leave your job you can claim JSA - but it is likely you will be sanctioned. This means that they will stop paying you as a punishment for leaving your job and can be for as long as 26 weeks. JSA is £60 odd a week. You may be entitled to mortgage relief (not sure what it is called) but that does not start for 13 weeks and will only be the interest on your mortgage. You may claim council tax benefit. Not sure of that would continue during the course of your (potential) sanction. The remaining bills are totally your responsibility. If you have to default then tough. You get nothing extra for bills. It is unlikely you could make a legitimate claim for ESA as you are not ill.

Personally, I think you should grow a pair and deal with the bullying. Go back to work and start a diary noting the dates, times and witnesses of any comments. Lodge a grievance against the person doing the bullying. Who is doing the bullying? Boss? Colleague? You have worked there a long time, is the bullying a new thing?

I cannot emphasise enough, if you leave you will be extremely poor and run the very real risk of losing your house. I would think long and hard if I were you.