Redundancy and benefits.

MingVase

Son has just been made redundant after ten years. He got a decent lump sum so is ok for now - but what happens next? Should he sign on the dole? Never been unemployed before and neither have I so we don't know how it works .

Alice_Holt

New Style JSA
Based on NI contributions, not means tested - so don't wait to claim.
 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-jobseekers-allowance 

Renting?  Children?
If under £16k in savings and redundancy payments look at means-tested Universal Credit
https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

MingVase

He has well under 16k Alice, and a fair bit of CC debt. Thanks for this, we thought he wouldn't get any dole money for months. TY

Alice_Holt

So, first New Style JSA (payable for a max of 6 months, and based on the last 2 years NI contributions (hence claim now)).

If he has rental housing costs - also claim UC. https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit
Paying the CC from redundancy will not count as deprivation of capital for UC.

MingVase

Awesome. ty

TELLIT01

Claim immediately, as any delay now will simply increase the time it takes before he receives his first payment.

MingVase

Onnit today - thank you both.