Giving up work and signing on

mrsm

Hi I hope someone can help.
My husband is about to be made redundant. He's only been there for a year so will only get PILON. He was made redundant before and it took 18 months to get another job.

But .. his office is closing and the work moving to another office 60 miles away (40 miles further than he travels now). He's been offered the chance to move and they will increase his wages by £1k. However we're struggling to make the figures work. There is no parking so he has to use NCP car park at £9 a day. We think the petrol will be almost £5k per year (3k more than he currently spends). All this wouldn't be too bad on a reasonable wage but he only gets £18500. My figures mean even with the 1k increase he'd take home 9k per year after travel (not including wear and tear on the car). I've not worked out the affect an extra 1k would have on tax credits (we have 3 children and currently get WTC as well as TC but I've been saving them as despite giving the tax office income for this year I can't see how we are entilited to WTC)
So long term its just not sustainable. His plan is to move to the new office but look for work nearer home. I'm not sure how long the move is financially viable for. What happens if we can't afford to travel and he has to give up before finding something else ? Does he really have to go 26 weeks without any JSA ?
Please no flamning, we really don';t want to be dependant on benefits but I can't see how we can cope with the travel costs long term.

Oldernotwiser

Have you looked at what you'd have to live on if you were claiming benefits?

custardy

mrsm wrote: »

Hi I hope someone can help.
My husband is about to be made redundant. He's only been there for a year so will only get PILON. He was made redundant before and it took 18 months to get another job.

But .. his office is closing and the work moving to another office 60 miles away (40 miles further than he travels now). He's been offered the chance to move and they will increase his wages by £1k. However we're struggling to make the figures work. There is no parking so he has to use NCP car park at £9 a day. We think the petrol will be almost £5k per year (3k more than he currently spends). All this wouldn't be too bad on a reasonable wage but he only gets £18500. My figures mean even with the 1k increase he'd take home 9k per year after travel (not including wear and tear on the car). I've not worked out the affect an extra 1k would have on tax credits (we have 3 children and currently get WTC as well as TC but I've been saving them as despite giving the tax office income for this year I can't see how we are entilited to WTC)
So long term its just not sustainable. His plan is to move to the new office but look for work nearer home. I'm not sure how long the move is financially viable for. What happens if we can't afford to travel and he has to give up before finding something else ? Does he really have to go 26 weeks without any JSA ?
Please no flamning, we really don';t want to be dependant on benefits but I can't see how we can cope with the travel costs long term.

would staying there in a B&B for the working week be feasible?

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow

or using public transport

chris1973

A good half measure would be to start looking for work now, and continue looking even after accepting the Job at the new location. Its always far easier to find a job whilst in a Job and in addition if it was mentioned during references etc, that your OH voluntarily turned down continued employment with the same company it may not reflect favourably, however genuine his reasons.

History doesn't have to repeat, and nobody has a crystal ball, and so it may only be weeks or a few months before he finds something else, but at least he'll still be employed throughout.

The B&B idea during the week is also a good one, and would be more cost effective than travelling the distance involved, if he actively seeks closer employment, its probably only going to be a temporary measure after all.