JSA and redundancy protection insurance

clipperboat

Just wondering if anyone can shed any light on my situation.

I was made redundant approx a couple of months ago. Not great news but I had been paying into a redundancy lifestyle protection insurance for quite a few years and so I thought at least I would have this for a max of 12 months until I sort myself out.

TBH, I don't want to be out of work, but I don't want to take the first thing that comes along - I thought I could use the next few months to reassess what I want to do etc.

Anyway, one of the conditions of the insurance is that I must be in receipt of JSA and this is where the problem lies.

I had my 6 week 'interview' last week where I was basically told that because there are not many jobs around that I did, and anywhere near the money I was on, I would have to basically take anything and that includes any job at minimum wage.

Now I totally understand the reasoning for this, and if I didn't have this policy I would be right on board - after all I'd rather work than be on benefit BUT this policy pays out a great deal of money and I have paid a great deal into it over the past X amount of years.

I should also say that I am on Contribution based JSA and I was doing quite a high paid professional job. I am in my 40's and had been doing that job since I left university - where I got degree in my expertise. I have also worked my way up the corporate ladder so hence I was in a good paid job.

Now I know that these jobs don't come up all the time, but I did think (because of the policy) this would buy me time to find the right job, but now I feel that only after a couple of months I'm being forced to do something I don't want to do.

I know this sounds awful to those who really need it - but I don't even want or need my £71 a week JSA - I only have to claim because of my policy.

I just feel that the thousands I have paid into this over the years hasn't been worth it.

Can anyone advise?

Thanks in advance.