Claiming benefits while on a sabbatical???

hardworker2010

Hi

I have been working as a nurse in the NHS for the last 10 years and have a highly stressful job and have some personal issues. In August this year I decided to take a career break which is unpaid leave for 6 months - I intend to return to my job when the 6 months is over. My employer is not paying me anything for the 6 months - I also have a son who is 5 years old. Am I allowed to claim benefits during this period I.e income support, housing benefit, council tax etc.

nannytone_2

as your son is 5, the only out of work benefit that would be appropriate is JSA, but as you are not seeking work then you wouldnt qualify.
why are you taking time off? are you ill?
if you are ill, then ESA may be a possibility.
housing benefit and council tax support are awarded brcause of low income alone and so should be payable even if no other benefits are being received

paddedjohn

ESA won't be possible until sick pay is exhausted and the OP isn't on the sick.

HappyMJ

hardworker2010 wrote: »

Hi

I have been working as a nurse in the NHS for the last 10 years and have a highly stressful job and have some personal issues. In August this year I decided to take a career break which is unpaid leave for 6 months - I intend to return to my job when the 6 months is over. My employer is not paying me anything for the 6 months - I also have a son who is 5 years old. Am I allowed to claim benefits during this period I.e income support, housing benefit, council tax etc.

You can claim the maximum child tax credits for your child.

If you have over £16,000 in assets (excluding the house you live in and it's contents) then you can't claim council or housing benefits.

Voyager2002

hardworker2010 wrote: »

Hi

I have been working as a nurse in the NHS for the last 10 years and have a highly stressful job and have some personal issues. In August this year I decided to take a career break which is unpaid leave for 6 months - I intend to return to my job when the 6 months is over. My employer is not paying me anything for the 6 months - I also have a son who is 5 years old. Am I allowed to claim benefits during this period I.e income support, housing benefit, council tax etc.

Are you willing to work while on sabbatical, perhaps part-time and in a different and less stressful role? If so, then so long as you are available for work and make genuine efforts to find a suitable position, you should be able to claim JSA.

sulkisu

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Are you willing to work while on sabbatical, perhaps part-time and in a different and less stressful role? If so, then so long as you are available for work and make genuine efforts to find a suitable position, you should be able to claim JSA.

Not if it contravenes the career break rules, which it usually does. I also work in the public sector and although career breaks are allowed, they usually expressly forbid working elsewhere. If OP goes down the route of 'I am actively looking for and am available for employment', she could find herself without a job.

OP, did you have a plan before you stopped work? I appreciate that your job is stressful, but it seems strange especially when you have a child, to take the career break and then worry about funding it two months later. Are you married, does your partner work?

Poppie68

Seems the OP will not be able to claim HB either as she owns a property, a bit of a dodgy business going on there, does'nt seem to be of her doing though..no wonder she is taking some time out.
That said i think the best place for you would be in work OP for several different reasons.

Dimey

Strange you didn't make a plan before going for the sabbatical OP. Maybe you did but it didn't work out.

Can you get a part time non stressful temporary job that won't contravene your work-break agreement? You don't want to add to your problems by scuppering your opportunity to go back to a good secure job at the end of the sabbatical when your stress is calmed down.

Alternatively, maybe you could do some car boot sales, Ebay or even make some crafts and do craft fayres to get a bit of extra money. Have a look at the secret shopper opportunities on this site.

duchy

How did you think you'd be supporting yourself whilst on a sabbatical ?

Do you have a partner ?

Sorry but I honestly can't understand with a child to support why you'd accept an unpaid sabbatical without checking into this first.

Would you be better going back to your employers and requesting reduced hours rather than a full sabbatical ?

missapril75

hardworker2010 wrote: »

...In August this year I decided to take a career break...I also have a son who is 5 years old.

nannytone wrote: »

as your son is 5, the only out of work benefit that would be appropriate is JSA, but as you are not seeking work then you wouldnt qualify.

Dimey wrote: »

Strange you didn't make a plan before going for the sabbatical OP. Maybe you did but it didn't work out.

As Poppie68 has noted, there's another thread that hints that circumstances have changed.

There's also the possibility that when things were set in motion regarding the break that the child was under 5.

Any enquiries made may have suggested JSA was okay (subject to the other relevant rules mentioned) with the relevance of the 5th birthday not being appreciated or mentioned.

wildwestfan

According the the OP's other thread she owns a property that s rented out. Would she still be able to get housing Benefit?