Married with two kids and unemployment

crusty_toenail

I all,

basically husband been working in same office job for six years and work has recently become intolerable (for all) in office due to higher up staff bullying/threats/lying and cheating.

He is becoming stressed and I am worried about him 'loosing it'.:(

I did a benefit calculation on the CAB website and got:

Per month
£553 - kids benefits (child tax and benefit) 2 kids (6) and (3).
£570 - job seekers (for couple - is this right?)
plus rates relief (owner occupiers) no savings.

I just wanted to know if he took time off due to stress or worst came to worst and he felt he couldn't tolerate the work situation anymore - can you just 'leave' a job and get benefits straight away?

I am worried about him. Please don't judge as he has worked everyday for 15 years with hardly a day sick. He does an amazing job at what he does which makes it all the harder as it is so unjust.

At what stage would we be able to get unemployment benefits (we have never claimed before so all help would be great - I am a stay at home mum).

Thanks in advance,
Crusty

whitewing

I am not judging but I do believe that financially you will always be better off working than not working.

Is he applying for other jobs? Sometimes even planning to leave (as opposed to talking about it) and putting in other applications can take the strain off the situation a bit. He may need to get out of a 'why should I have to leave' mindset to do this successfully.

Are there other tips to help you as a family cope better with the stress of this situation?

Could you get a part time job (if you aren't already working) so that it eases the situation a little in terms of what ifs?

sleepless_saver

His JSA might be affected for up to 6 months if he leaves a job voluntarily without good cause. Impossible to say what will happen in his specific case as it's down to how well he puts his case, what his employer says about it, and the view the JCP decision maker takes.

http://www.worksmart.org.uk/rights/will_i_lose_out_on_benefits_if

BTW, that has to be the most revolting username I have seen on MSE...

[Deleted User]

if he is ill could he get his gp to sign him off for a period?

Dunroamin

If your husband reacts badly to stress I'd be very wary of giving up his job. Living on benefits is very stressful.

princessdon

Firstly you both have my sympathy

Re the benefits

If he is off sick (then I assume he will be on the company sick pay) - if they pay sick pay then he won't get anything.

If he quits then the following will occur

1) The Job Centre can sanction him/you for up to 26 weeks. Ie they will determine what if any sanction and the length of that. That will mean zero Job Seekers if they do. They will contact his ex employer and ask their side of it, you seem to suggest they'd be negative and if they say he quit then you have to realise that this sanction may be a reality.

2) Tax Credits- Are you basing them on zero income? If so that is not how they work. They take into account an annual figure. Ie all his earnings since April to the time he will stop being paid. So with notice period that could be 7 mos? Also your JSA is added to that figure and is taxable (ie if he is over the tax limit of 8K for this year, you will pay 20% tax on your JSA). In addition this is added as income for Tax Credits.

Eg if he has earnt (gross) £2k a month then in October it will be £14K. JSA is then added to this figure.

3) Tax credits normally use last year as a figure - you can apply to have this recalculated (see above), BUT if he got a job, then paying back overpayments is a possibility.

So it may not be quite what you wanted to hear. Bearing that in mind are there any alternatives. Is he in a Union, can he join one? Is there a HR Department or Occ Health he can speak to? Can you go out to work in the short term?

I realise typing this is it all doom and gloom but I'd rather be honest before any decision is made.

crusty_toenail

Thank you kindly for all your comments, especially that last poster, loads I had not even thought about!

All is good in the world again, and justice has prevailed!

An angel has come along to save the day and truth, kindness and love have won out against liars and scumbags!

Just when you think all is lost you realise, there is something else at work here.....good has won out in the end!!!!

princessdon

Very cryptic but I assume all is good

next time post at least an hour earlier to save typing a long post on a phone!

Only joking - hope it works out.

crusty_toenail

Well turns out my hubby has friends in high places who are honourable and decent and are looking out for him. So, all the prayers have worked and he will be able to continue to make the best out of a bad situation until the next stage of the game! Work bullies really are the scum of the earth.