Mutually Agreed Resignation Scheme and job seekers allowance?

JenniWren10

Work have offered us the opportunity to apply for a MAR Scheme (rather than voluntary redundancy) and I am considering doing so, but I can’t find an answer on whether this would count as voluntarily leaving my job. 

Does anyone know how I would find out 

huckster

Technically yes it would be voluntary leaving employment.  If you claim New Style JSA, the Job Centre Work Coach may refer to a Decision Maker on this basis. One of the questions they will ask is whether the job is likely to have continued if you had not applied for the MAR scheme.  Is the employer looking to save money due to financial issues or avoid going through redundancy process, as the work coming in is not currently adequate to support staffing levels, therefore they are being prudent by seeking people who may want to leave for a fresh challenge elsewhere.

  Are there are any good reasons to support you applying for MAR. e.g. long term health issues, caring responsibilities outside of work causing issues with work attendance ?

From what I have seen Decision Makers appear to mostly apply benefit sanctions where there are no good reasons to support leaving employment and the person has gone on to claim JSA straight away without leaving it for say 3 months before claiming, allowing time to find employment during the 3 month period.

TELLIT01

A Decision Maker would need to consider all the information regarding the situation and make their decision based on that.  I think all anybody can say is that there is the potential for a decision to be made to apply sanctions for resigning from a job.