Redundancy/JSA

PolaBear

Hey people

Have not been in this situation before so don't know the ins and outs.

Decided to take redundancy from where I worked and after working weeks of notice (have been there over 10 years) have now left and received my payment. I chose to leave and decided to for a few reasons, not enjoyed where I have been working and want to move on to something I want to do or will enjoy more, or even train to do something else, am open minded. As well as this also want to sort out a few things have Drs appointments right now, nothing to get into here), and might even do some travelling.

Have been looking and researching/emailing places as well as trying to get a plan tigether if what I want and how to move forwards. Have never been on or considered benefits or JSA at this point as again am open minded up and if I have to take a job I don't want long term to get to somewhere I do want to be then I understand that.

Have learned I would be entitled to it, but knowing nothing about it, would the allowance be based on taking any job or having to interview etc? Obviously I get that you couldn't do nothing but have done this for a different reason other than being made redundant, iv decided to roll the dice and work things out and might want time and space to do so.

Think that makes sense, any thoughts appreciated people

PolaBear

Think what I'm saying is if you are looking for jobs or researching careers is that acceptable, or is the allowance a case of taking anything or going for any job?

p00hsticks

PolaBear wrote: »

Think what I'm saying is if you are looking for jobs or researching careers is that acceptable, or is the allowance a case of taking anything or going for any job?

I believe they normally give you a few (three ?) months where they'll allow you to concentrate on looking for jobs similar to the one you've left, but after that you''ll be expected to apply for pretty much anything that you can do.

when you first apply they'll agree a contract with you that will detail what you will be expected to do with regard to job seeking (e.g. applying for x jobs a week, contacting x potential employers with CVs, checking various job websites daily etc)

It sounds like you'll have the necessary NI contributions to claim contributions based JSA. If you haven't, then depending on your personal circumstances (married, single, kids ?) and wher you live then you may end up on Universal Credit. I believe the philosophy behind the job seeking part of that benefit is that looking for work is a full time job and they'll therefore be expecting you to spend 35 hours a week doing so.

TadleyBaggie

I was on contributions based JSA about 5 years ago and for the 6 months I was left to get on with my own job search. They made no attempt to find me a job. Things may have changed since then.

PolaBear

Thanks people

Have been doing so, my job right now is to get a job, all I'm saying is right now it isn't a case of taking anything as iv done this to improve myself. Could end up being training, a course, job, am open minded and trying to find what's right for me.

PolaBear

If it is right that for a while you can do your own thing do you still have to go every 2 weeks (I think)? Or can you do it online or in more time?

lexington013

Hi, I had to attend 2 weekly and fill in detail in my logbook what searches I had completed and applied for. I was told that after 3 months I would have to apply for any job.......
To be honest I was just processed. Found the whole episode depressing. However I made it quite clear that there customer service relationship was appalling.
Thankfully I found another position after 3 months.

PolaBear

When was this? Have heard from someone else now that they were sent away and told they could apply online as they weren't a big risk, meaning they were looking anyway.

PolaBear

In way I'm thinking that it's something I'd do if it got to the point where I'd have to take a job, but then if the process is easy enough Id look into it now while I searched myself. Right now don't want the issue of having to log things as I'm doing the work myself as well as looking into what I might LIKE to do.

elsien

I was made redundant in the summer. I took a month off then signed on and started job hunting.
Do not expect the job centre to do anything proactive to find you a job, its not what they are there for. They are there to make sure you are actively seeking work. They may steer you towards some training, but it will be basic IT, interview skills, that sort of thing. If you are looking for slightly higher level eg managerial jobs, they have nothing to offer in my experience.
The expectation is that you will put all the work in yourself. I was given 3 months to apply for equivalent jobs then I would have been expected to apply for every minimum wage job going. Even though I could demonstrate I was seriously looking for work, I still had to go in every two weeks, because you have to show evidence you are spending 35 hours a week job hunting and they wanted to see the physical evidence It was only the initial application that was online.
It is a demoralising experience, you really are just a number, don't go in thinking they will be falling over themselves to help, because they won't. Sign on for the ni contributions and the miniscule amounts of money, brush up on your cv and interview skills, and register with the online agencies. They are far more use than the job centre.

PolaBear

Thanks.

Not expecting them to be any help, just right now ain't at the stage of wanting to have to prove anything, a lot of what I'm doing now is either reading or emails, as well as career advice sites etc. the idea is to find something where I'm happy right now as wasn't in my other job and decided to roll the dice. Obviously I'm open minded enough to know that I might have to take something while looking further or after a while.