advice needed for leaving a job

niftythrifty33

Hi, I would really welcome any advice on this...
I have been in a very stressful job for a few years and it's making me quite ill. I really need to leave but there are no jobs in my area apart from minimum wage which I can't really afford, mostly cleaning jobs and carers jobs. I take my hat off to carers but know I couldn't do it. I have done lots of cleaning jobs in the past but usually for myself not for an agency.

If I leave my job will I be entitled to any benefits? I know jobseekers allowance used to say that if you left voluntarily you couldn't apply, though not sure nowadays?

I have children between 10 and 16 and husband who works full time. Would I be better off going self employed and doing something like cleaning until I am feeling better, or well enough to do something else or can I just leave and claim jobseekers?

Any ideas out there? Hope this is in the right thread?

Many thanks

InsideInsurance

niftythrifty33 wrote: »

If I leave my job will I be entitled to any benefits? I know jobseekers allowance used to say that if you left voluntarily you couldn't apply, though not sure nowadays?

You can claim JSA, and always have been able to, if you leave work voluntarily however you will be sanctioned, ie not receive money, for a period of time due to the voluntary nature of your leaving (same if you are sacked for gross misconduct). Worst case is 26 weeks saction

bodmil

Perhaps you could speak to your manager first to try to resolve the sitatuation and reduce the stress levels?

niftythrifty33

Thanks InsideInsurance, does that mean that they base each case individually? so I might get JSA after a month or 6 months etc?

Do you know anything about going self employed?

Thanks

niftythrifty33

Thanks Bodmil, I have done this. It is the nature of the kind of job that is making me feel exhausted/stressed, nothing that the manager can do. It is a combination of things both in work and personally over the past year that are making me feel like this. I think I just need to get out and start to feel better then I can really think about whether I want to stay in this line of work or similar? Sorry I can't elaborate, I can't say too much as it would be very easy for work/colleagues to work out who I am. wish I could say more

InsideInsurance

niftythrifty33 wrote: »

Thanks InsideInsurance, does that mean that they base each case individually? so I might get JSA after a month or 6 months etc?

Just noticed it has changed, the max is now 3 years.

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/benefits_e/benefits_benefits_in_work_or_looking_for_work_ew/benefits_for_people_looking_for_work.htm#jobseekers_allowance_and_sanctions

Normally it is 13 weeks for JSA and resignation but they are individually assessed

If you are self employed then you may not be entitled to claim JSA as evidently you arent unemployed but it depends on the number of hours etc

niftythrifty33

I might not be entitled to enough then to leave work as with no JSA and child tax credits being based on my previous earnings I wont get anymore than we get now.

I would love to know more about going self employed. If I start my own cleaning company (as I know I can do cleaning for now) can I claim any top ups as my pay will be very low to start with?

Should I be posting this in the benefits section?

Thank everyone

InsideInsurance

niftythrifty33 wrote: »

I would love to know more about going self employed. If I start my own cleaning company (as I know I can do cleaning for now) can I claim any top ups as my pay will be very low to start with?

Should I be posting this in the benefits section?

In reverse order, it probably will be better to post in the benefits section.

You need to be careful with your terminology however....

If you form a cleaning "company" then you are talking an LTD and therefore you are not self employed but an employee of that company. It is a discrete legal entity and it will pay you a salary (which you set) and any profits can be distributed as dividends or retained in the business but that is the company's money not yours until it is paid to you (as salary or dividends)

As a self employed person, aka sole trader, then there is no company, only you. Any profit you make is automatically yours and is in effect your "salary"