Benefits if quitting job

matilda.cs

Hi all,

My partner is currently working FT but she is desperate to leave the company. The working conditions are nasty, and she is looking for an alternative employer...

We just did a benefits check on entitledto and it suggested were entitled to over £300 a week...which seems like a lot? Especially when I'm also working FT.

I'm worried we've overlooked something. Also, does it make a difference to benefits entitlement if she leaves her job? (Ie, less benefits because she chose to be unemployed)

Thanks,

Neil

p00hsticks

she could be sanctioned (i.e. money stopped) when claiming JSA if her reasons for quitting aren't considered good enough

Whether the amount is right or not will depend on what are the benefits you were considering, whether you have children, how much you earn and whether you rent or own ...

matilda.cs

If the figures are accurate, then we wouldn't need to claim JSA.
We rent, have kids etc, but what worries me is that we couldn't make a claim until she leaves her job, but we don't want her to leave her job if it's a big deficit in income.

For the record, neither of us are work shy, and my partner hopes to get another job ASAP, but if it takes 6 months, we'd be screwed without a decent income.

When we factor in her commute and childcare, these benefits would exceed her income...it seems crazy for her not to leave, but I'm sure the government said that they would ensure no one is better off unemployed than employed, so are we missing something?

To reiterate, this choice is purely to get her out of her existing employment until she gets a new job. She has great qualifications, and is a really hard worker, and doesn't want to be unemployed - it is just a temporary thing...unfortunately, jobs ain't easy to fine by right now!

duchy

She would almost certainly be sanctioned for leaving without finding another job first .....so if you can't afford it best she finds another job first.

matilda.cs

duchy wrote: »

She would almost certainly be sanctioned for leaving without finding another job first .....so if you can't afford it best she finds another job first.

Even if not claiming JSA?

On entitledto.com? It asks if my partner is looking for work - if I say "no" the weekly payment drops by ~£10 a week... We'd still be happy with this figure. Is that still sanctionable?

lakes17

I find your post quite disturbing. You state that jobs are hard to come by but you are quite happy for your partner to leave a paid job and claim benefits which will be for a good while. You seem to think there is nothing wrong with squeezing the hard pressed taxpayer to pay for your bills even though your partner is capable and indeed is currently working to do that. Instead of using the calculator to see how much you can wring out of the taxpayer surely the best course of action would be to use that time to search for a job and only after finding a job leave the current one. Another point you seem to be overlooking is that their are plenty of people up and down the country who are working in jobs they hate but would never dream of playing the system like you are as they would prefer to work. Also it is very hard to get a job whilst unemployed, especially when you have quit for no good reason than it is if you are currently working!!

fabforty

£300 p.w does sound like a lot, perhaps you have overlooked something. It is hard to advise without facts and figures. How much do you earn, how many children, ages and childcare costs, rent, private or social housing, size of property, your ages and any disabilities in the household - all of these will make a difference. Your figure could be accurate but it might no be.

matilda.cs

lakes17 wrote: »

I find your post quite disturbing. You state that jobs are hard to come by but you are quite happy for your partner to leave a paid job and claim benefits which will be for a good while. You seem to think there is nothing wrong with squeezing the hard pressed taxpayer to pay for your bills even though your partner is capable and indeed is currently working to do that. Instead of using the calculator to see how much you can wring out of the taxpayer surely the best course of action would be to use that time to search for a job and only after finding a job leave the current one. Another point you seem to be overlooking is that their are plenty of people up and down the country who are working in jobs they hate but would never dream of playing the system like you are as they would prefer to work. Also it is very hard to get a job whilst unemployed, especially when you have quit for no good reason than it is if you are currently working!!

Thanks your reply. It has been great reading your critical and demeaning response.

My partner does not want to be unemployed, however, she has had time off work for maternity and has returned to a different department where she knows no one, they are all young teenagers and make no effort to communicate with her even if she instigates a conversation. She has asked for a transfer but been refused, and comes home in tears most nights. But thanks for your helpful input.

She does not wish to be out of work for any longer than the minimum, but as we've both paid tax for 15 years, I don't see it a major issue if she asks for a little of that back.

This isn't a decision we're taking lightly, and we would both rather be working FT as it's 'how we are.'.. That said, she can't continue feeling this way.

matilda.cs

fabforty wrote: »

£300 p.w does sound like a lot, perhaps you have overlooked something. It is hard to advise without facts and figures. How much do you earn, how many children, ages and childcare costs, rent, private or social housing, size of property, your ages and any disabilities in the household - all of these will make a difference. Your figure could be accurate but it might no be.

I agree.
£15800 for me. (£0 for her, if done leaves)
3 children (9, 3, 1)
Childcare costs would be zero (though we would aim to keep them in whatever childcare we can personally afford, as it's best for their development)
Private, unfurnished rented, 4 bed house.
No disabilities
Both aged 30

She's asked about a transfer to a new department but they've flat refused.

allen35

The increase you are expecting seems to be from Housing Benefit and tax credits.

Tax Credits are initially assessed based on previous tax years joint income.

You have stated you earn £15,800, how much has your partner earned so far this tax year and what was your total joint income for 13/14 tax year.

You can deduct £100 pw for the period your partner was receiving Statutory Maternity Pay.

How much is your rent and what Council do you live in?

matilda.cs

allen35 wrote: »

The increase you are expecting seems to be from Housing Benefit and tax credits.

Tax Credits are initially assessed based on previous tax years joint income.

You have stated you earn £15,800, how much has your partner earned so far this tax year and what was your total joint income for 13/14 tax year.

You can deduct £100 pw for the period your partner was receiving Statutory Maternity Pay.

How much is your rent and what Council do you live in?

Hi Allen,
We're not "expecting" anything! We're just seeing what we might be entitled to.
So far she has eArned (circa) £4k in 2014/15
We both earned (maybe) £26000 in 13/14

Rent £580 and CT group B (just under £1200 a year)