JSA if you leave your job?

MrPayless

Can anyone tell me it is possible to claim Job seekers allowance if ones leaves their current job on their own accord.

My son was working in an office for a few months but left for personal reasons which I wont go into.

He is applying for other jobs but with limited success,

Will the jobcentre give him JSA? I told him I doubt it!

Any ideas on the criteria? He is married with one child and his wife isnt working.

flashnazia

It all depends on what those personal reasons are. He will not get JSA if they found him to have left without just cause.
He should just apply as there is nothing to lose.

lady_fuschia

A friend of mine was in a similar situation. He couldn't get JSA but he was able to claim some other benefits - he needs to go in and ask really, as every situation is different.
Also, although if you quit a job you can't claim JSA I think there is a time limit on that and after a certain amount of weeks you can put a claim in as if you were dismissed.
Need to go in and ask really, the worst that can happen is they say no.

ukdickie31

Also, although if you quit a job you can't claim JSA I think there is a time limit on that and after a certain amount of weeks you can put a claim in as if you were dismissed.

Unfortuantely, that's a common misconception. You can claim, and should claim from the first day of your unemployment.

A decision to sanction can only be made once the facts are known. When the claim is taken, the reasons for the job ending are asked. The answers from the Employer and Employee are sent to a Decision Maker to consider if a sanction is appropriate, and if so, the length of the sanction (Maximum 26 weeks from date of job ending).

It often takes several weeks to make this decision and in the meantime, benefit may be payable.

So many people are under the misconception that you cannot claim. Please don't be another person who falls into this category.

black-saturn

Many moons ago I worked in this department of the DSS where they decided whether or not a person could claim JSA when leaving a job of their own accord. Claimants used to have to fill it a lengthy form about why they left and generally the more info they gave the better chance they had. Usually JSA was granted. I even remember someone leaving McDonalds because they didn't like wearing a cap all day and even they were granted with JSA!!! So if he left for valid personal reasons I would think it will be OK.

Print_Screen

Indeed I have left a job before to try and get a better one and progress my career. I left the job without having another lined up and they gave me JSA no arguments or anything. In fact I didn't know that they could refuse me for doing this until I read about it on MSE

healy

As ever ukdickies advice is excellent ( sorry cant get the thank you button to work). I would just like to add that if he was sanctioned (between 2 and 26 weeks) and it is not changed on a reconsideration he can appeal to a tribunal and has a good chance of a reduction in the sanction period if he shows good cause. As others have said if he had good reason for leaving the job and provides enough detail he may not be sanctioned at all.

ukdickie31

better stop saying nice things,, my 'ed will swell