Disability & Redundancy

I-Owe-You

Hello all,

I wonder if anyone would be able to help me? I apologise for my naivety but I have not dealt with or claimed state benefits (aside DLA) before.

I am disabled, my disabilities are degenerative and in the past 18 months I have found it increasingly difficult to commit to my structured 9-5, 5 days a week job. Working for the public sector I have recently been given the opportunity to apply for voluntary redundancy, the total payable would be around 6.5k.

I am very keen to take up this offer as I am struggling to cope at work and had considered the prospect of leaving, but am concerned regarding my possible benefits entitlements.
I claim DLA for my disabilities, but have always worked despite my ill health. Unfortunately it has now got to the point where I need to put my health first and feel giving up this job is now necessary. (I do intend to look for another more suitable role, perhaps less hours - although due to the current climate Im not sure how long this will take)

My questions are, what benefits would I be entitled too, and would the fact I have taken Voluntary Redundancy affect my ability to claim straight away - is there a "cooling off" period where I cannot make a claim? I had been informed (& have in writing that if I had not accepted voluntary redundancy, I would have then received notice of compulsory redundancy)

Its very stressful, as I live with my partner who also works full time but is on a modest income of £18,000 a year. We have £800 PCM rent to pay amongst many other outgoings, and he also pays maintenance for 2 children from a previous relationship, so we have obvious concerns regarding our future finances, and what support from the government we can expect.

I would be so grateful for your advice and expertise.

sleepless_saver

If you take voluntary redundancy, then you can and should apply for jobseekers allowance right away. There will be no "cooling off" period, but you do need to make sure that you have clear evidence from your employer that it is voluntary redundancy(ETA I see you have this). (You would be treated differently if you simply resigned.) Assuming you have been paying NI contributions from your employment in recent years, you will get contribution based JSA of about £64 a week.

Make sure you make it clear what restrictions there are on your employment (e.g can only work part time/ not able to travel etc) when you sign on.

Any other benefits would be means tested and you would be assessed as a couple for council tax benefit, housing benefit, working tax credit (which your partner would need to claim if you are not working and would definitely not get for this financial year). You may well not be entitled to any of these, but have a look at this benefits checker to find out. Your DLA is relevant to the WTC calculation whether you are working or not.

Finally, your partner could always check his maintenance contribution is still correct.

sleepless_saver

Just a further thought. You will definitely be worse off when you stop working. The contribution based jobseekers allowance lasts for 6 months only, and if you are still unemployed after that your partner's income is likely to prevent you getting income based jobseekers allowance. You would then be reliant on his £18k a year and your DLA.

So would your present employer be prepared to reduce your hours or change working arrangements to allow you to carry on? As you probably know they are obliged to make "reasonable adjustments" where someone has a disability.

McKneff

Nothing to add, I just wanted to applaud your work ethic. :T

I feel exactly the same, gone down to part time and Im okay for now but sometime in the future, well, who knows.......