Made myself voluntarily unemployed

Dry

Hi

I was working until a few months ago when I decided I'd had enough and quit. The nature of the job meant that confrontation was inevitable and I accepted that but there were too many instances of people attempting to assault me and I felt that my employer was not doing enough to stop it.

I could have potentially gone down the employment tribunal route but the job was minimum wage and the employment tribunal fees made such a decision not worth it and there was no guarantee I'd win anyway.

I could tell the benefits people that I left my job due to health and safety grounds but I really don't have much proof. They would no doubt contact my former employer who would deny my claims of a dangerous working environment and it would be my word against theirs.

Outwardly I left my former job on good terms with my former employer. I worked my full notice period and told them I was leaving for personal reasons because I didn't see any benefit in being honest with them about how I felt they weren't taking threats and assaults seriously enough. They weren't the type of people who took kindly to any sort of criticism and I may want a reference from them in the future so I didn't want to upset them.

Since then I've been trying to get another job but it's been much more difficult than I expected it would be. I left two months ago and I've been living off my savings since then but now my savings are dwindling and I was wondering if anyone knows how long you have to wait before you can claim benefits when you've quit your job?

Caz3121

Dry wrote: »

I was wondering if anyone knows how long you have to wait before you can claim benefits when you've quit your job?

you claim immediately and then the decision maker will decide on the length (if any) sanction applies...can be up to 26 weeks

Mersey_2

You're still within the time frame in order to consider legal action.


I'm not suggesting you do - this just means it would be truthful to state that you left due to a dispute and you're considering a potential claim.


It's essentially at the discretion of a local Decision Maker. Many claimants succeed in their JSA claims, but yes, you can be sanctioned.


You my be entitled to contributions-based JSA for 26 weeks. Rather than income-based JSA or UC. This clerical claim will be dealt with manually by JCP as the new DWP UC system appears unable to deal with contribution-based JSA claims online.

Dry

Ok thanks. So the worst case scenario is that they may not have to pay me anything for another four months.

Mersey_2

Sanctions of months are rare for 'first offences', plus you can appeal the decision.

Dry

Ok thanks. Looks like I'll just put in a claim and see where the chips land.

pebbles88

This fact sheet linked below covers the sanctions related to Jobseeker's Allowance.

It tells you on there how long the sanction would run for if the decision maker decided that you didn't have good cause to leave your job. It states that leaving a job comes under the higher level sanctions so a first higher level sanction would be for 13 weeks.

There is also the hardship process which is explained in section 6 of the document

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jobseekers-allowance-sanctions-leaflet/jobseekers-allowance-sanctions-how-to-keep-your-benefit-payment