redundancy, lifestyle protection insurance and JSA

clipperboat

Hi,
feeling quite sick at the moment......

I have just been told today that I am facing redundancy - I have to have a final meeting to discuss terms etc but it is what it is.

TBH, there is nothing I can do but accept the fact and move on.

Thankfully I had taken out Lifestyle protection insurance (with Columbus / MMS) about 18 months ago, and reading through the fine print it looks like I have cover for the next 12 months - phew.

Bad news.... you have to be in receipt of JSA. Now this in itself won't be an issue as I'll get contribution based JSA for the next 6 months and although I won't qualify for Income based allowance (other halves income & savings) they will still consider my claim for the 12 months.

Now this is where the problem lies. I have already booked and paid for a weeks holiday in a few months out of the UK. I understand that because the holiday is outside the UK I will not be able to claim JSA - fair enough - totally agree as I won't be available for immediate work for that week BUT to claim on my Lifestyle protection insurance I need to be in continuous receipt of Jobseekers allowance.

So, hence I feel really sick. The holiday is very expensive and paid for by my credit card which is not paid off.

If I take the holiday I am presuming I will loose my insurance money, which in itself is for quite a considerable amount per month.

Has anyone else been in this situation and can offer advice.

oscarward

Do you not have travel insurance that covers redundancy, in which case cancel holiday?

If no travel insurance talk to insurers to see if they are flexible about it?

clipperboat

oscarward wrote: »

Do you not have travel insurance that covers redundancy, in which case cancel holiday?

If no travel insurance talk to insurers to see if they are flexible about it?

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately my travel policy is with the company I am being made redundant from so will loose that benefit on the day or redundancy and therefore will not be able to claim :-(

Flexible insurance company...... if only.

clipperboat

Just on a side note re travel insurance with my company, I have just checked and redundancy is excluded so I won't be able to claim back the money that I have already paid for the holiday :-(

princessdon

Ok as someone in a similar postion can you delay your claim for JSA until after the holiday?

It's easier for me as only 5 weeks so I can start the claim when I come back.

Also talk to them - they may be OK with it if you do a rapid claim afterwards.

clipperboat

Ok as someone in a similar postion can you delay your claim for JSA until after the holiday?

I did think about that because it is only about 4 weeks or 9 weeks if they offer PILON (still unsure of terms) but according to the terms of my insurance, all paperwork must be completed and returned within 30 days of the 'event' so I'm very unsure about that.

getmore4less

Remember you can still claim JSA even though the amount will be zero to keep your NI contributions.
AIUI the JSA claim is your proof you are trying to mitigate the claim for the insurance company.


I would check with the the JSA claims if there is anything they can do, I think you can still claim even if you do have holiday they may just reduce the payment. you are supposed to notify if you go away from the normal home for just a day.

If this holiday is a few months away you might have a job by then.

Any chance you could get a job interview at the holiday location? I think you may be able to leave the UK for those.

can you sell the holiday or have someone else go?

can you change the holiday and bring it forward to the notice period.

clipperboat

getmore4less wrote: »

Remember you can still claim JSA even though the amount will be zero to keep your NI contributions.
AIUI the JSA claim is your proof you are trying to mitigate the claim for the insurance company.


I would check with the the JSA claims if there is anything they can do, I think you can still claim even if you do have holiday they may just reduce the payment. you are supposed to notify if you go away from the normal home for just a day.

If this holiday is a few months away you might have a job by then.

Any chance you could get a job interview at the holiday location? I think you may be able to leave the UK for those.

can you sell the holiday or have someone else go?

can you change the holiday and bring it forward to the notice period.

I was under the impression that they had to actually close the claim whilst you were away, and then restart as a repaid claim. Surely if they stop and start then that would not be classed as a 'continuous' claim?

I will actually be away for a week and in the USA so no real chance of finding a legitimate interview over there.

In terms of selling, passing onto someone else or even moving the dates that is where the real nightmare is. If it was just me and my partner then I would obviously not be as bothered as we could just cancel, but this is a group holiday which I have organized and begged people to come on. Its one of those 'holidays of a lifetime' :-(

getmore4less

That gives you more peopel to look for someone to replace you,

if the OH still goes you only need to find one person.

What about negotiation with work to extend the termination date unpaid/using accrued holiday etc.

clipperboat

getmore4less wrote: »

That gives you more peopel to look for someone to replace you,

if the OH still goes you only need to find one person.

What about negotiation with work to extend the termination date unpaid/using accrued holiday etc.

TBF, I don't really think OH would go without me.

I have spoken to work about extending my termination date and am yet to hear back, but from initial discussions I don't think they will do this.

princessdon

I'm with MMS and they need notification of the event - but I said as they will be paying PILON - I wouldn't claim for those weeks and they said it was fine.

Give them a ring