Signing on

Ballard

I am being made redundant and as things stand will be out of work from 1st October. I've decided to take three months off and will be out of the country for half of this time. Being as I won't be seeking employment with any vigour until January there's every chance that I won't be employed before March.

My question is (hopefully) quite simple. Should I sign onto the dole? I don't want jobseekers allowance (I probably wouldn't qualify for it anyway) but are there any other reasons to sign on?

p00hsticks

Ballard wrote: »

My question is (hopefully) quite simple. Should I sign onto the dole? I don't want jobseekers allowance (I probably wouldn't qualify for it anyway) but are there any other reasons to sign on?

'Signing on the dole' generally means claiming JSA (or its successor , Universal Credit, depending on where you live).

If you are not prepared to commit to looking for work full time then you won't be eligible to claim.

Once you do start looking for work full time then you'll be eligible to claim JSA/UC. Assuming that you've paid enough NI over the last couple of years you'll get contribution based JSA for six months - if you don't qualify then you may be eligible for means tested JSA , which will be reduced if you have savings or an OH who works. Even if you get no money, you will get NI credits for signing on which could affect your future entitlement to a state pension.

Ballard

Okay, thanks. I won't bother signing on this year but may review it next year if I don't find a job as quickly as I'm hoping.

marlot

Jsa is taxable, so it may be worth only claiming from april

Mersey_2

Remember that JSA (contributions-based) is only available for the first 6 months after you leave work, ie you can't delay starting this 6 month period, as it will have expired in March 2016 [if your P45 pays tax & NICs til 01.10.15].


It may be worth checking whether you're due a tax rebate in April 2016 eg if you claim JSA eg Jan-Feb 2016, when your claim ends this should trigger any rebate due, but of course always best checking your own figures re 2015/16 earnings with HMRC.

marlot

Mersey wrote: »

Remember that JSA (contributions-based) is only available for the first 6 months after you leave work...

Really? My wife took three months off (we were moving house, so she genuinely wasn't available for work). Then claimed the full six months.

p00hsticks

Mersey wrote: »

Remember that JSA (contributions-based) is only available for the first 6 months after you leave work ie you can't delay starting this 6 month period, as it will have expired in March 2016 [if your P45 pays tax & NICs til 01.10.15].

This isn't true.

You're right in saying that eligibility for contributions based JSA depends on a persons NI contributions, but it doesn't necessarily mean that you have to have made those contributions in the previous few months.

Currently, eligibility will be determined on NI contributions for the two tax years 2012-13 and 2013-14 - so broadly from April 2012 up to March 2014.

Where it might affect the OP is that at the start of next calendar year (i.e. January 2016) this time frame advances to look at tax years 2013-14 and 2014-15.

So if they have breaks in their work record since 2012 they may find it better to get their claim in either before or after the New year.