Benefits if quitting job

missbiggles1

mattcanary wrote: »

Take off your benefits bashing hat for one minute


Key points:
OP has tried working out what they would their family would be entitled to from the state if their other half gave up their current job (which appears to be part-time). Then tried comparing this to their current family income.


OP has calculated that they wouldn't be much worse off as a family if partner gave up current job (although are unsure about their calculations). Therefore posts on this forum asking for help.


Partner hates current job and dreads going in to work. Is thoroughly miserable with the current situation.




So you think someone should stay in their current job (with nothing addressed as to what happens within this role at the moment), rather than end up being slightly worse off financially (maybe until they find a new job) and in all likelihood much better off emotionally, just to prove to idiots that they are not "stealing other people's money"? Despite the fact that in many households only one person works and the family claims various benefits, such as Tax Credits, etc.


Furthermore you think I am offering irresponsible advice?"!!!!!

If someone can't get a new job when they're already working they're going to have a far more difficult time getting one when they're unemployed. A long period of unemployment could well wreck someone's future life and career, so I do think your advice is irresponsible.

The OP says that the problem is
"she 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."

which is hardly the same as a major problem with bullying or harassment. In fact, the best solution might be for his wife to accept that she doesn't go to work to chat and make friends but to do the job for which she's paid.

mattcanary

missbiggles1 wrote: »

If someone can't get a new job when they're already working they're going to have a far more difficult time getting one when they're unemployed. A long period of unemployment could well wreck someone's future life and career, so I do think your advice is irresponsible.

The OP says that the problem is
"she 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."

which is hardly the same as a major problem with bullying or harassment. In fact, the best solution might be for his wife to accept that she doesn't go to work to chat and make friends but to do the job for which she's paid.

Yes, that is definitely something for OP's partner to consider (but then she probably has already)


But no-one should hate work to the degree that they are frequently in tears and distressed about their situation. Things cannot continue for any length of time like that (for someone's health as much as anything else). The question is - what should someone do to prevent feeling like this?


The answer is not to dismiss out of hand taking benefits for a period of time whilst searching for new work (or indeed being a stay at home parent for a time). That is one of the options available. There may well be other options too.


But for people to come here and post that the OP should not give up her job because they are paying for people to not be in work, serves no useful purpose at all.
Other than to rankle with the OP and not help one iota in answering OP's question.

harz99

mattcanary wrote: »

The answer is not to dismiss out of hand taking benefits for a period of time whilst searching for new work (or indeed being a stay at home parent for a time). That is one of the options available. There may well be other options too.

The answer may well be not to do any of the above, but to take medical advice, and act on that advice.


The causes described as making OP so miserable should quite clearly not be enough to cause the stated reactions.

matilda.cs

It's odd that I'm getting hated on so much, when I'm still going to be working, and paying tax...

We have a 10 month old child, so it really isn't unreasonable for her to be off work. In fact, she could easily still be on maternity leave!!

dippy3103

matilda.cs wrote: »

It's odd that I'm getting hated on so much, when I'm still going to be working, and paying tax...

We have a 10 month old child, so it really isn't unreasonable for her to be off work. In fact, she could easily still be on maternity leave!!

How long has she been back at work? Has she explained to her employer how hard she is finding it?

lost_for_words

In fact on one of the last few applications one ask what I was doing between the times of inaction. so I dont hold much hope on that job.

Its tough out there just now, the work group I attend have some very clever people in the group that are finding it very hard to get back into work.

You have to ask your self how you would cope if you found yourself in financila hardship in the near future and wish you never left as you are more stressed now.

Anyway, well done for seeing it out so far.

2gorgeousgirls

mattcanary wrote: »

2gorgeousgirls wrote: »

Perhaps it isn't the best thing for your family if you are miserable from work every day. Your children see you miserable, possibly snapping at them, etc. They may prefer it if you give the job that you hate up. If you hate your job so much, why the hell are you not looking for a new one??!!
Working should never be someone's whole life, if they don't want it to be.

I am not seeing any sense of entitlement from OP. They are just trying out what it the best thing for them to do. If OP's wife is regularly in tears after being at work, and her employers aren't working with her to try and improve the situation - then I think the sensible thing is to give the job up if the family aren't going to bankrupt themselves by doing this. Staying in a job when you are thoroughly miserable is pretty stupid behaviour really. Maybe you should be looking at yourself rather than chastising others.


People in work also get free healthcare (apart from medication costs), free education, etc. So yes, even when you are working you are sometimes taking money out of the country's bank balance.
Some people seem to think that claiming benefits is akin to being an axe-murderer!!!
Many people in full time work claim benefits anyway. So is that wrong?
People in work - oh, they are the most righteous, up-standing honourable people possible.


People not in work - oh, they're benefits scum.


Really - you should think a bit more before coming out with such claptrap.

Wow, you are making a lot of assumptions. I don't believe that I wrote anywhere that I am miserable, or snap at my kids.

Yes, I hate my job but that doesn't mean that I am miserable when not at work. I am lucky that I can leave my kids to school and pick them up. When I leave work, I forget about it until the next day.

I am not looking for another job because I know I wouldn't get one with the salary and benefits, ie flexi working, term time working, etc.

I also don't believe that I said people who are not in work are scum, again that is your assumption.

I believe the benefits system is there for people who find themselves in need, not for people who chose to put themselves in that position.

As for getting out of the system, yes I most definitely do. We use the NHS, free education (indeed I have one child who has had braces fitted and another who will need them). I do not use an NHS dentist. I am extremely grateful for the NHS and our education system. But all the while I have been "taking out", I have been "paying in". I have not decided to jack in a job and let the benefits system (and again I include tax credits) to subsidise my family when I am perfectly capable of doing so myself.

I will say it again, to be perfectly clear, the benefits system is there for people, who through no fault of their own, need help. It is not a lifestyle choice.

ETA: By the way I am in NI so I get free prescriptions!

mattcanary

2gorgeousgirls wrote: »

mattcanary wrote: »

Wow, you are making a lot of assumptions. I don't believe that I wrote anywhere that I am miserable, or snap at my kids.

Yes, I hate my job but that doesn't mean that I am miserable when not at work. I am lucky that I can leave my kids to school and pick them up. When I leave work, I forget about it until the next day.

I am not looking for another job because I know I wouldn't get one with the salary and benefits, ie flexi working, term time working, etc.

I also don't believe that I said people who are not in work are scum, again that is your assumption.

I believe the benefits system is there for people who find themselves in need, not for people who chose to put themselves in that position.

As for getting out of the system, yes I most definitely do. We use the NHS, free education (indeed I have one child who has had braces fitted and another who will need them). I do not use an NHS dentist. I am extremely grateful for the NHS and our education system. But all the while I have been "taking out", I have been "paying in". I have not decided to jack in a job and let the benefits system (and again I include tax credits) to subsidise my family when I am perfectly capable of doing so myself.

I will say it again, to be perfectly clear, the benefits system is there for people, who through no fault of their own, need help. It is not a lifestyle choice.

ETA: By the way I am in NI so I get free prescriptions!

You are lucky in that you have a high-paying job, by the sound of it (plus presumably you have a husband that is also working).


You earn enough money to not have to claim tax credits.
Plenty of people aren't in that position. That doesn't make you any better than those people.


If you hate your job so much though, why not look for a lower-paying job (plus well paid jobs) that you would enjoy and boost your income through tax credits if you need them? I know flexible jobs don't grow on trees but they are around and I'm sure you could have found some to apply for in six years.

Alternatively find ways of making your current job more enjoyable, rather than just moaning about hating your job.

Life is too short to spend many hours each week doing a job you hate, when you have the option of looking for something else and hopefully then enjoying your work, when you find a new job.


I am guessing though that you don't really hate your job. You haven't mentioned getting distressed through it, stressed out by it or dreading to go in to work. You just are not that keen on the job and would in an ideal world prefer to do or be somewhere else.
If someone truly hates something in their life, in 99% of cases it will adversely affect how they behave in their life outside this area. It is bound to, even though you probably don't intend it to.

dippy3103

Just to go back to the original question. I agree that £300 a week sounds a lot. Might be worth asking the benefit office to do a "what if" calculation for you- that way you can double check your figures.

I hope she finds another decent job soon- by far and away the best out come

2gorgeousgirls

mattcanary wrote: »

2gorgeousgirls wrote: »

You are lucky in that you have a high-paying job, by the sound of it (plus presumably you have a husband that is also working).


You earn enough money to not have to claim tax credits.
Plenty of people aren't in that position.


If you hate your job so much though, why not look for a lower-paying job (plus well paid jobs) that you would enjoy and boost your income through tax credits if you need them? I know flexible jobs don't grow on trees but they are around and I'm sure you could have found some to apply for in six years.

Alternatively find ways of making your current job more enjoyable, rather than just moaning about hating your job.

Life is too short to spend many hours each week doing a job you hate, when you have the option of looking for something else and hopefully then enjoying your work, when you find a new job.


I am guessing though that you don't really hate your job. You haven't mentioned getting distressed through it, stressed out by it or dreading to go in to work. You just are not that keen on the job and would in an ideal world prefer to do or be somewhere else.
If someone truly hates something in their life, in 99% of cases it will adversely affect how they behave in their life outside this area. It is bound to, even though you probably don't intend it to.

Again with the assumptions. I never said I have a high paying job - I don't. I do have a husband who works (whilst coping with several health conditions). I also don't moan about hating my work. Apart from this thread, I don't believe I have ever mentioned on this forum that I hate my job. Due to the nature of the job, I do not have the ability to make it more enjoyable so I put up with it.

I won't look for a lower paying job and live of tax credits because I was brought up to be independent.

Anyway I can see that no matter what I say, you like to read between the lines and make erroneous assumptions so I will bow out of this thread.