Entitlement to JSA

Supersaint13

Hi, wonder if anyone can help please?

I am 53 and was made redundant from a full time job in October last year, but was able to obtain a further full time permanent role in a bank, at a relatively junior level, which I started at the beginning of November.

However, the role is already causing me to experience health problems due to stress - I have suffered from depressive episodes twice previously, the last in 2005. These were both work-related - I was at that time in a senior position in a bank, which I left in 2006.

I took on this latest role as I need to work and am familiar with banking, but deliberately went for a role at a junior level, assuming that the demands would be considerably less than when previously employed in that sector.This has sadly not proven to be the case.

I know that if I continue with this job, I will inevitably end up on medication again, and I do not want to put my family - I have two daughters - through the same situation they had to endure when I went through the 2 previous episodes.

I am already looking for other much less demanding roles well away from financial services, but want to know if I hand in my notice, will I be able to claim JSA or any other benefits - being that I will in effect be making myself unemployed. The alternative though is too concerning to consider - the inevitable return to depression and medication.

Does anyone please have any suggestions?

Many thanks.

Supersaint13

Thanks for your reply, appreciated.

I have tried CBT previously, and whilst it does work, it took some time to do so.

I want to try to do the "right" thing by being straight with my employer - I'm not some workshy individual - by being upfront totally with them.

I'm sure I could just go to see my doctor and with my "history" he would sign me off, potentially (almost certainly) leading the company to dismiss me at the end of my probationary period in 3 months time. I would much rather do things properly though and leave with my head held high.

Are there any other benefits I could claim? I have worked since I was 18 and only fleetingly claimed benefit, when I left banking in 2006, so I'm not up to speed with what, if anything, I may be entitled to.

Caz3121

does your partner work?

Supersaint13

Yes Caz, she has a full time job.

pmlindyloo

You will have just cause for leaving if you can show that the work was so harmful to your health that it would be unreasonable to expect you to stay until you had found another job.
In this case your doctor will normally be contacted to provide supporting evidence. You will be found to have good cause if your doctor confirms that the work was harmful to your health or that he advised you to leave.
Where there isn't supporting medical evidence but you genuinely believe that your health prevented you doing the work properly or that the work was making your health worse then the DWP may reduce the length of your sanction. (From BenefitsNow website)

It may be that you will not get sanctioned if you have evidence to prove that staying at your job would make your health worh so a visit to the doctors may be a good idea.

If your wife is working full time then you would need to apply for JSA contribution based.

Supersaint13

Many thanks Lindyloo, I really appreciate your comments.

OwenGriff

if i was you i wouldnt claim JSA as your not in a fit state to look for another job. Claim ESa and wait for the 8 week medical. Explain to them and you may end up in the wrag group until sufficent time they move you back to JSA.

Mara69

OwenGriff wrote: »

if i was you i wouldnt claim JSA as your not in a fit state to look for another job. Claim ESa and wait for the 8 week medical. Explain to them and you may end up in the wrag group until sufficent time they move you back to JSA.

How on earth did you reach this conclusion? The OP stated that the last incidence of depression was 6 years ago. There has been no mention of the OP suffering such debilitating depression NOW that they cannot work. The OP has said that it is the job itself and that moving to another job will resolve the problem. Being signed off with depression and languishing at home is more likely to make the problem worse, not better.

Supersaint13

Thank you all very much for your comments - they are all appreciated.

drwho2011

Would you have paid enough NI in the required tax years to claim contributions based benefits?

If you did make a claim for ESA please be aware that they would be assessing your ability to work, not your ability to work in your existing job and from the information you provided it seems likely that they would find you fit for work.

As your partner is working, if you did get contribution based jsa it would only be for 6mths.

My advice is change careers as soon as possible.

Supersaint13

Dr Who - thanks for this. My savings would mean I'm sure I wouldn't qualify on any means tested basis.

I have decided to change careers - my health is much more important to me (and my family) so I have resigned from my job this morning, my savings will keep us afloat for at least a couple of months, and in terms of work, I'm prepared to do just about anything that'll cover the bills.

We might not be rolling in it, but at least I'll have my sanity, my wife will have a husband and my girls will have a dad who IS a dad.

There's worse things happen in the world.

The fact that people actually come on forums like this prepared to take their time to try to help others is fantastic for starters!