JSA if leaving job voluntarily?

JohnR

I can't seem to find any hard and fast rules about this.

Our circumstances at the moment are such that my wife cannot work because of her depression - she isn't yet receiving any benefits, although she has a claim in progress. She has had to change Doctors to get one sympathetic to her illness, as her previous Doctor would not sign her off (so she could claim IB), despite her depression meaning she is unable to leave the house. My income falls short of all our outgoings, partly down to a personal loan (have started to re-claim bank charges, but am unlikely to see any money from that for a few months at least) and the cost of owning and running a car in order to get to work (working shifts on an out-of-town retail park with no public transport means I need the car). My work is causing me a lot of stress, because of the need to meet (what I consider) unrealistic sales targets.

My wife's parents have offered to help us out by asking us to move in with them, so that we don't have rent, council tax, electricity, water, tv licence etc to pay until we can get back on our feet, both financially and medically.

This is great, but they live a few hundred miles away in Scotland, so it would mean that I would have to leave my job. This would also allow me to look for a more suitable, less stressful job in Scotland.

Now, it seems that leaving my job voluntarily would mean I wouldn't get JSA, but would I be eligible for Income Support, or Income related JSA?? I have already started looking for jobs in Scotland (I will be handing in my notice on Monday), but it would be a weight off my mind if I knew that we could get SOMETHING to tide us over if I cannot get a job as soon as we move up there.

Nile

Hello JohnR

I'm sorry you're having such a difficult time. Don't assume anything yet.;) On the first day of unemployment, contact your nearest Job Centre Plus and they will tell you if you can have Job Seekers Allowance.

It is possible in some cases to leave a job (eg you resign) and get Job Seekers Allowance, so it's best to start the claim process as soon as you are unemployed.

Good luck

Nile

ukdickie31

Hi

Each time a claim for JSA is made, the reasons for the last job ending are considered. The worst case scenario is a six month disallowance, the best is none at all. Most sanctions are somewhere in between.

You will get questions asked, sometimes several weeks after the claim is made so be full and timeous in your replies. If you give as many mitigating circumstances as possible and can demonstrate you explored other options rather than claim JSA, you are more likely to receive a favourable decision than a person who has just given up a job through no good reason.

You must continue to sign on even if you get a disallowance for your claim to remain open.

JohnR

Thanks for the replies, guys. I would like to make any period of unemployment as short as possible, and am already applying for jobs based up there, so hopefully that will count in my favour.

Scarlett1

JohnR wrote:

Thanks for the replies, guys. I would like to make any period of unemployment as short as possible, and am already applying for jobs based up there, so hopefully that will count in my favour.

have you any evidence of this ?, if you have then show it to them and it might work in your favour, good luck

thesaint

I left a job voluntarily once and only went to sign on so that I would get my national insurance contributions paid. I was surprised when I received JSA.

real1314

The main question is why are you leaving your job.

From what you've said, it's because your wife is ill and needs support. The best way you can get support is to re-locate to scotland to live with her parents.

Doing this will mean you would have to give up your job. If you didn't have to re-locate, would you give up your job or stick with it until you could get something different?

Spendless

It's upto the decision maker. I claimed and was awarded JSA (contribution based) when I gave up my job, to go and live with my then boyfriend in another county.

I was asked and could show the efforts I'd made to find a job in the area prior to leaving my old job.