Can I claim JSA if I have to leave my job?

sorceress

Hello Ive been having a bad time at work lately and I havent been able to hit my targets. Basically they have told me if I dont hit them this month I will get the sack and will not be able to get a good reference off them. I dont want to leave but due to the stress and pressure that I may lose my job I am not hitting my sales targets. They said if i was to resign i would get a reference so Im frantically trying to find another job and might have to resign so that I get a good reference. My question is would I be able to claim JSA if I dont find a job in time? Im worried cause I have no savings and a 14 year old daughter to support and I need to keep paying rent/bills else I might lose my house too! Any advise would be much appreciated

Thanks

Heamol

I think if you leave your job voluntarily (as opposed to redundancy or getting the sack) there is a sort of "penalty time" where you cannot apply for JSA for several weeks. I'm not exactly sure of the time though.

From the Direct Gov website:

If you left your job

If you chose to leave your job, we’ll ask for the reason why. You need to show that you had ‘just cause’ for leaving. Your last employer may be asked to comment on any statement you make. Jobcentre Plus will make a decision based on a number of things, which include whether it was reasonable for you to take the action you did. If we decide that you left your job without just cause, you may lose your benefit for between 1 and 26 weeks.

If you were dismissed (‘sacked’)

If you were dismissed from your job, we’ll ask your last employer for the reasons. You will be able to comment on what they say. Jobcentre Plus will decide whether you have lost your job because of your own actions. If we do decide that this is the case, you may lose your benefit for between 1 and 26 weeks. If your Jobseeker’s Allowance is stopped, you may get a hardship payment (see page 8).

http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@benefits/documents/digitalasset/dg_199994.pdf

Just something to think about: is there any guarantee that if you do resign and go on JSA, your current employers will both a) give you a glowing reference to potential employers and also b) explain the full circumstances of your necessary resignation (not hitting targets etc) to the JSA people? They'd have to say two completely different things.

Whatever you decide to do, I hope things pick up for you. I've been there with stress at work. You're doing the right thing by applying like mad now- much easier to find work while you're in work, for some reason.

LittleVoice

sorceress wrote: »

Hello Ive been having a bad time at work lately and I havent been able to hit my targets. Basically they have told me if I dont hit them this month I will get the sack and will not be able to get a good reference off them. I dont want to leave but due to the stress and pressure that I may lose my job I am not hitting my sales targets. They said if i was to resign i would get a reference so Im frantically trying to find another job and might have to resign so that I get a good reference. My question is would I be able to claim JSA if I dont find a job in time? Im worried cause I have no savings and a 14 year old daughter to support and I need to keep paying rent/bills else I might lose my house too! Any advise would be much appreciated

Thanks

Be very wary of believing them about giving a reference. I would guess they want you to resign so that they don't face an ET for not having gone through correct procedures to dismiss you.

When did you begin working for the company?

sorceress

thanks for your replies I starting working for them just over a year ago and I enjoy my job just really stressful at the minute knowing that I might get the sack

Torry_Quine

sorceress wrote: »

Hello Ive been having a bad time at work lately and I havent been able to hit my targets. Basically they have told me if I dont hit them this month I will get the sack and will not be able to get a good reference off them. I dont want to leave but due to the stress and pressure that I may lose my job I am not hitting my sales targets. They said if i was to resign i would get a reference so Im frantically trying to find another job and might have to resign so that I get a good reference. My question is would I be able to claim JSA if I dont find a job in time? Im worried cause I have no savings and a 14 year old daughter to support and I need to keep paying rent/bills else I might lose my house too! Any advise would be much appreciated

Thanks

Whether you resign or are sacked you could be subject to a sanction.

As soon as you lose your job you should apply for JSA, they will ask how the job ended and will contact the employer for verification. Until the decision is made you will be paid JSA and this can take some weeks.

Also if you have sufficient contributions you will be eligible for six months JSA after which it becomes income related.

As to a reference they can say anything as long as it is true and verifiable.

LittleVoice

sorceress wrote: »

thanks for your replies I starting working for them just over a year ago and I enjoy my job just really stressful at the minute knowing that I might get the sack

It that case they do have to be careful if they decided to dismiss you - you are protected from unfair dismissal because of your one year's service.

They should be trying to help you meet your targets not simply threatening you for not having done so.

Heamol

LittleVoice wrote: »

It that case they do have to be careful if they decided to dismiss you - you are protected from unfair dismissal because of your one year's service.

They should be trying to help you meet your targets not simply threatening you for not having done so.

Agreed, the company sounds like they are being quite harsh tbh.

Is it in your contract that you must hit monthly targets or face dismissal?

Are you a member of a union?

sorceress

Nope Im not part of a union and yes I do have monthly targets but lately its been really hard and I had a disciplinary beginning of this month because I havent been hitting them and was issued a written warning and the disciplinary was classed as a verbal warning I think. Thats when I was told If I didnt hit them for another month I would get the sack. I completely understand I have under performed but I have worked really hard and have been determined to hit them, working on my days off and everything. The stress must have affected me really bad along the way and I am struggling to hit them again Thanks for all your replies, I guess I look for another job while trying my hardest at work and just see what happens

MissSarah1972

sorceress wrote: »

Nope Im not part of a union and yes I do have monthly targets but lately its been really hard and I had a disciplinary beginning of this month because I havent been hitting them and was issued a written warning and the disciplinary was classed as a verbal warning I think. Thats when I was told If I didnt hit them for another month I would get the sack. I completely understand I have under performed but I have worked really hard and have been determined to hit them, working on my days off and everything. The stress must have affected me really bad along the way and I am struggling to hit them again Thanks for all your replies, I guess I look for another job while trying my hardest at work and just see what happens

A verbal warning or a written one? A final written one? How many have you had?

They can't just say here is a warning and we wont help you improve then you are out!

Never resign though!

Lith

Can I claim JSA if I have to leave my job?

Yes and No


Depends how well you know how to 'flank' the system, i've done it when i left a job and got jsa with out problems

(but now? the system is tougher now..) - but there's always a way around that.

rosered1963

OP - if I were you, I would go to Citizens' Advice - you can make an appointment. If you don't have savings over a certain amount, you would still get help with your rent even if they sanctioned your JSA. I did once leave an unbearable job and got JSA because they thought my reasons for leaving were valid. please get some advice so you know where you stand, and take all your financial information with you. If I were you, I would be looking to get another job - any job and get out of there. Good luck