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Lost job due to covid

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I’ve been informed that my 1 year contract won’t be renewed on 15 October and I will be unemployed. I am a committee secretary with over 20 years experience in all business support roles. I have started applying for jobs directly and through agencies. If anyone has any useful resources to share either for virtual assistant opportunities or administrative/executive roles in North or Central London please share. I thought this time I will need to get more creative about how I earn money as the office support sector is not as buoyant as it was. I’m working towards a pilates teaching qualification until March 2021 and am also interested in making art and selling it, creative writing/blogging/social media.
Achievements:
9 Aug 2021: Achieved a perfect credit score on Experian (999/999 points - Excellent)
Debt free date: 23 July 2021.
Next goals: Save deposit as a first time buyer.
Find ways to increase income
Further reduce budget/ sell old stuff

Goals for October 2018: Eliminate unneccessary spending

Comments

  • Grumpy_chap
    Grumpy_chap Posts: 18,249 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    That is unfortunate news, but at least you have 3 weeks notice.
    It is clear from your post that you have a positive and flexible attitude - they will probably do the most to see you through to a new future.
    Will you qualify for contribution-based JSA after 15th October?
  • calcotti
    calcotti Posts: 15,696 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 26 September 2020 at 8:13PM
    Grumpy_chap said: Will you qualify for contribution-based JSA after 15th October?
    For new claimants JSA is now known as new style JSA. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-jobseekers-allowance
    Although new style JSA is a contribution based benefit the term contribution based JSA refers to the former version of JSA which comprised both claim contribution based and income based elements.
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Some rules may be different in other parts of UK.
  • Grumpy_chap
    Grumpy_chap Posts: 18,249 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I apologise for my terminology being out of date.
    I assume, therefore, that what used to be the means-tested part of JSA is now wrapped up as UC?
    Hopefully, the OP will still qualify for the contributions-based payment.
  • calcotti
    calcotti Posts: 15,696 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 26 September 2020 at 8:39PM
    I apologise for my terminology being out of date.
    I assume, therefore, that what used to be the means-tested part of JSA is now wrapped up as UC?
    Hopefully, the OP will still qualify for the contributions-based payment.
    No need to apologise. We effectively have two benefits systems running in parallel at the moment, legacy benefits for longer term claimants and UC for new claimants, and it gets confusing.

    Yes, UC has replaced income based JSA.

    OP, you can use a benefits calculator to check whether you are entitled to support while you look for a new job. https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Some rules may be different in other parts of UK.
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