Is it really cheeky to claim contribution JSA when you're already well off?

Nick_C

To quote from the CAB website;

Contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance is not affected by any savings you have. However, if you have part-time earnings or an occupational or personal pension, this may affect how much contribution-based JSA you get. For example, the amount of contribution-based JSA that you get is cut pound for pound for any occupational pension that is over £50 a week. If you earn too much, you will not get contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance at all.

Notnewnotold

dearlouise wrote: »

Cheeky? No.
Will it kill your soul setting foot into a building made up of at least 75% of scroungers fortnightly? Most definitely.

I appreciate the warning, but 20 years working in banking has put paid to my soul already :-)

To everyone else, thanks, I can see it will be a case of 'try it and see' - if I end up dealing with someone reasonably pragmatic then it could work out ok. If however I end up with someone that expects me to be applying for every random NMW job under the sun from day one, then I'll be cutting and running pretty fast!

One final question on the subject of notice pay: as I'm getting a months salary payment in lieu of notice, would that affect my eligibility in he short term? Likewise, if I get additional trailing payments In January (relating to company share awards from previous years), would that be viewed as 'income' that could impact my right to claim?

elsien

Notnewnotold wrote: »

To everyone else, thanks, I can see it will be a case of 'try it and see' - if I end up dealing with someone reasonably pragmatic then it could work out ok. If however I end up with someone that expects me to be applying for every random NMW job under the sun from day one, then I'll be cutting and running pretty fast!

If you do go for it, as part of your jobseeker's agreement you should negotiate a timescale in which they agree it is ok for you to just apply for jobs equivalent to your previous role. I wasn't particularly high flying but was given 3 months to get a similar role before I had to apply for anything and everything. You may be able to get longer than this.
You can't sign on until your pay in lieu of notice has run out, so you'd have to wait the month anyway.

General_Grant

elsien wrote: »

You can't sign on until your pay in lieu of notice has run out, so you'd have to wait the month anyway.

I'm not sure that that is the case. It was a very long time ago but I think it changed (probably around 2000).

If it were a case of being paid during the notice period but not being required to attend work (aka "gardening leave"), then a person would still be employed.

If it is payment instead of being retained as an employee during the notice period then I believe one can sign on straight away.

General_Grant

Notnewnotold wrote: »

One final question on the subject of notice pay: as I'm getting a months salary payment in lieu of notice, would that affect my eligibility in he short term? Likewise, if I get additional trailing payments In January (relating to company share awards from previous years), would that be viewed as 'income' that could impact my right to claim?

PILON means you aren't employed - so you can claim JSA from the first day after your employment ends even if you were entitled to notice which would give a later leaving date. (If it is not pay "in lieu of" then you would still be employed.)

Are you certain to receive the payment in January? Is it shares or cash?

Notnewnotold

General_Grant wrote: »

PILON means you aren't employed - so you can claim JSA from the first day after your employment ends even if you were entitled to notice which would give a later leaving date. (If it is not pay "in lieu of" then you would still be employed.)

Are you certain to receive the payment in January? Is it shares or cash?

Thanks, and yes to confirm this is PILON so my employment will have terminated, although it will be about another 4 weeks until I actually get the payment, along with the rest of the redundancy settlement.

Bar my soon to be ex-employer going bust (wouldn't be the first time for me either...) then yes, I have shares coming to me in January, and it will be an income event with tax being due...

cattermole

Nick_C wrote: »

To quote from the CAB website;

Contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance is not affected by any savings you have. However, if you have part-time earnings or an occupational or personal pension, this may affect how much contribution-based JSA you get. For example, the amount of contribution-based JSA that you get is cut pound for pound for any occupational pension that is over £50 a week. If you earn too much, you will not get contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance at all.

Makes sense because you have another regular income.

dearlouise

Notnewnotold wrote: »

I appreciate the warning, but 20 years working in banking has put paid to my soul already :-)

To everyone else, thanks, I can see it will be a case of 'try it and see' - if I end up dealing with someone reasonably pragmatic then it could work out ok. If however I end up with someone that expects me to be applying for every random NMW job under the sun from day one, then I'll be cutting and running pretty fast!

One final question on the subject of notice pay: as I'm getting a months salary payment in lieu of notice, would that affect my eligibility in he short term? Likewise, if I get additional trailing payments In January (relating to company share awards from previous years), would that be viewed as 'income' that could impact my right to claim?

It won't effect anything. From your date of termination, you can claim JSA. Anything awarded after that is to do with when you were working. Prior to your termination date.

I personally wouldn't mention that at all. It's not relevant to your claim & if you get a jobsworth they might get a bee in their bonnet.

dearlouise

Notnewnotold wrote: »

I appreciate the warning, but 20 years working in banking has put paid to my soul already :-)

To everyone else, thanks, I can see it will be a case of 'try it and see' - if I end up dealing with someone reasonably pragmatic then it could work out ok. If however I end up with someone that expects me to be applying for every random NMW job under the sun from day one, then I'll be cutting and running pretty fast!

One final question on the subject of notice pay: as I'm getting a months salary payment in lieu of notice, would that affect my eligibility in he short term? Likewise, if I get additional trailing payments In January (relating to company share awards from previous years), would that be viewed as 'income' that could impact my right to claim?

You're allowed 3 months to be 'picky' as long as you're finding jobs to apply for, they'll be fine.

kem1

You could win the lottery and claim contribution based JSA, as long as you're not working part time or in receipt of a private pension you'll get it if you've paid the contributions.

Speaking as somebody who worked in a Jobcentre for many years, it was always a welcome relief to take a claim from somebody applying for contribution based JSA only - a nice, simple application form (no info about money required) and a person in front of you that usually wants another job and knows how to find one! You won't be frowned upon for claiming it - you'll have paid more into the system than you get back!

Rules for pay in lieu changed in about 2006 I seem to recall, making everybody's lives easier - won't affect your claim. As you have a usual occupation, you should be given a 'permitted period' of 13 weeks to look for the job and wage that you want. After that, if you haven't been successful, they would expect you to widen your options - you'll probably be working again by then.