Could I claim benefits such as the "New Style Jobseeker's Allowance while being on a Career Break?

Lord_Frugal12

I would like some up to date information on the following issue: 

In November 2022, I took a  one year career break from my job. I did this to move abroad and travel. While being abroad, I was trying to build the early stages of an online business. 

This month, I had to prematurely return to the UK. (I am a UK citizen). 

So, I was away from the UK for just five months. And I am officially still on a Career Break from the job I was doing before November 2022. That Career Break would end in early November 2023. 

Now, I do not want to return to that job. One of the reasons why I took a Career Break was... obviously to change careers. Now, I want to carry on pursuing this new career. But the early stages of building an online business does not bring any income. (As most self-employed people or  entrepreneurs would agree). 

I applied for the "New Style Job Seekers Allowance." And the DWP has scheduled a first meeting with me.   So, what do I say?  "I am on a Career Break and I don't want to look for a job within the same industry in which I worked before." ?    

I fear that I would be pushed to go back to the company that gave me the Career Break. Or, I would be pushed to stay within t hat industry, which is an industry I come to hate!  

And with a Career Break, one does not get a P45. Does the New JSA claimant needs to submit the P45 to claim this benefit? 

(I am not able to claim Universal Credit as my savings go above the DWP's required minimum). 

Sincere thank you in advance for your information and advice. This forum is one of the bright lights of Britain that I missed while I was living abroad! 

grumiofoundation

To clarify are you currently looking for a job? (Edit - as below if not then you won't be eligble)

I am not sure how much license you have to decide what jobs/industries you get to apply for.

Benefits board might also be suitable?
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/benefits-tax-credits

Grumpy_chap

The OP is unclear (to me at least) whether they are on a career break or actively looking and available for work.
That is an absolutely key question in assessing whether JSA may be available.

Brie

If you say you're not looking for a job you will not get any JSA.  And if you do claim you have to have a meeting every 2 weeks and prove that you have been job searching.

A P45 is not required but you might need to explain why you haven't applied for JSA or any jobs sooner.  They may be happy with "I tried to set up a business and it didn't work" in which case the start date for the JSA presumably would be the first day you decided not to set up a business.  I'm not sure what they will conclude if they realise you are on a career break and are meant to be back to that job in November.  

elsien

The giveaway is the name. Jobseekers allowance. You will be expected to be actively looking for work to claim.

When  I was made redundant, I was given a certain amount of time to just apply for equivalent jobs in my own field and if I’d still been unemployed at the end of it I would have been expected to apply for pretty much anything and everything.

Marcon

Lord_Frugal12 said:

I applied for the "New Style Job Seekers Allowance." And the DWP has scheduled a first meeting with me.   So, what do I say?  "I am on a Career Break and I don't want to look for a job within the same industry in which I worked before." ?    

You'll certainly need to demonstrate that you are actively seeking employment, so announcing cheerily that you're on a career break doesn't quite fit with applying for Job Seekers Allowance (the clue is in the name....). 

Go along to the meeting and be honest. You might get some genuinely helpful information/support even if you don't qualify for JSA.

marmite1979

If you want Universal Credit or JSA you need to look for work by searching and applying for jobs, it's not guaranteed you'd get any of course so while you await an offer you can have your ''career break'', if you are looking to set yourself up in business the job centre can help you by giving you advise by sending you to organisations who will go through your plans.
The alternative is to have a career break and have nothing coming in, but you won't be asked to look for work or attend the Job Centre

Lord_Frugal12

grumiofoundation said:

To clarify are you currently looking for a job? (Edit - as below if not then you won't be eligble)

I am not sure how much license you have to decide what jobs/industries you get to apply for.

Benefits board might also be suitable?
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/benefits-tax-credits

Thanks for this response. 

I am looking for a job while trying to set up a business. 

Lord_Frugal12

Grumpy_chap said:

The OP is unclear (to me at least) whether they are on a career break or actively looking and available for work.
That is an absolutely key question in assessing whether JSA may be available.

Thanks for this response. 

Lord_Frugal12

Brie said:

If you say you're not looking for a job you will not get any JSA.  And if you do claim you have to have a meeting every 2 weeks and prove that you have been job searching.

A P45 is not required but you might need to explain why you haven't applied for JSA or any jobs sooner.  They may be happy with "I tried to set up a business and it didn't work" in which case the start date for the JSA presumably would be the first day you decided not to set up a business.  I'm not sure what they will conclude if they realise you are on a career break and are meant to be back to that job in November.  

Lots of good points. Thanks for this response. 

Lord_Frugal12

elsien said:

The giveaway is the name. Jobseekers allowance. You will be expected to be actively looking for work to claim.

When  I was made redundant, I was given a certain amount of time to just apply for equivalent jobs in my own field and if I’d still been unemployed at the end of it I would have been expected to apply for pretty much anything and everything.

Thanks for this response.

And, yes, I should have known the obvious: "The giveaway is the name."