emigrating back to the UK from Greece

grapespear

Hi,

I am currently under the Withdrawl Agreement in Greece, and after 5 years working for the same company I want to get back to the UK.  I have had enough of the employment laws broken by my employer, but thats a different story.

If I move back can I claim JSA or whatever it is now, until I find a job?

I have little to no savings, no family to help.  I am at a loss on what to do.

All advice would be grateful

itsthelittlethings

You need to be habitual resident in this country to claim benefits. I believe you have to wait three months until you are eligible to claim benefits but I could be wrong.

DullGreyGuy

Normally you are sanctioned for 3 months. 

Any reason not secure a job in the UK before moving?

grapespear

At the moment, I am too expensive to employ. greece is currently on the race to the bottom, where I have had interviews for the similar job paying 300 less a month than I am currently getting.  The company I work for has not given a payraise in 15 years.

I can do my job remotely, so found some cheap properties in the north east of england for 400pcm rental.

I am just trying to figure out how much I will need to save to support myself when i get back

grapespear

At the moment due to cost of inflation etc.  I have managed to save 400 euros.

grapespear

even if I can find minimum wage work full time back in the UK I would be better off than where i am

Brie

Your problem may be getting a landlord to rent to you if all you have is 1 month's rent available.  As I understand it you'll need that for a deposit and then have to find a way to pay rent, bills etc.  That you don't have a recent credit history in the UK won't help as no one will be able to judge what risk you pose and will assume the worst.  

Also I don't think there is much in the minimum wage work that allows for working from home so moving to the north east may not actually work in your favour.  

Sorry to offer just glum ideas rather than something more positive but without a decent bank account behind you it may be very difficult indeed.

grapespear

Brie said:

Your problem may be getting a landlord to rent to you if all you have is 1 month's rent available.  As I understand it you'll need that for a deposit and then have to find a way to pay rent, bills etc.  That you don't have a recent credit history in the UK won't help as no one will be able to judge what risk you pose and will assume the worst.  

Also I don't think there is much in the minimum wage work that allows for working from home so moving to the north east may not actually work in your favour.  

Sorry to offer just glum ideas rather than something more positive but without a decent bank account behind you it may be very difficult indeed.

Thanks, I should clarify a couple of things.

I have worked from home after lockdown in 2020, the project is for an American brand.  I have also experience in retail and pubs.finding another job will not be an issue there.  the main issue is working out how much i need to save as a safety net just in case.

In regards to the work from home jobs, there are quite a few available, if you know where to look. If the worst happens I should be able to transfer to the uk arm of the company.

I should get my extra 2 month wages at christmas, as defined by greek law, so can put that in the savings account.

my main questions which seems to be answered was that i would need to wait 3 months before i can claim if necessary 

peteuk

grapespear said:

Hi,

I am currently under the Withdrawl Agreement in Greece, and after 5 years working for the same company I want to get back to the UK.  I have had enough of the employment laws broken by my employer, but thats a different story.

If I move back can I claim JSA or whatever it is now, until I find a job?

I have little to no savings, no family to help.  I am at a loss on what to do.

All advice would be grateful

To claim JSA you need to have paid NI contributions for the two years previous.  After the 3 months you could claim UC…

grapespear

Thanks. I know what to do now.

huckster

Nothing to stop you claiming UC as soon as you return and go through the UC Habitual Residency Test. Let UC Decision Maker decide on eligibility to claim the benefit. If you get sanctioned for 3 months, at least you have a date the claim will be valid from.