to claim JSA when i have been made redundant?

[lifeafterredundancy]

Background:
worked at same company 10 years - being made redundant at end of july.
getting a £25K redundancy package.

DH works but we need both incomes to sustain a moderate standard of living.

I want to claim JSA while i am looking for work. (The work i do is mostly based in London and I live a £40 train fare away so assuming i get interviews the train fare alone will cost me a pretty penny)

I mentioned this to a friend who thought it was a disgrace as i have a redundancy package to see me through. It's got me wondering. On one hand I think that if i am eligible (a whole other question) then why shouldn't I claim as I have been paying into the system for 15 years and I will be an active job seeker, but I also see my friend's point that I don't need the JSA as I have my redundancy to pay for train fares/petrol etc to get to interviews.

So, I've got my hard hat on! Am I being Unreasonable to claim JSA??

[Christelle2207]

Yanbu in principle but I wouldn't be surprised if you're not entitled to it, esp iif you have savings. Not aware of the current rules. If against the rules then yabu.

Agree that its not fair if you've paid tax and NI for years, but the way the country works isn't fair.

You friend is bump judge you on the issue though.

[SarahBumBarer]

You will presumably be claiming contributions based JSA - based on the fact that as you say you have been paying in to the system. YANBU at all. JSA is an allowance for job-seekers to pay for precisely the things you want to use it to pay for. Why should you have to use your redundancy for that - that is there as compensation and to tide you over on other bills/mortage rent etc. Your friend sounds like a bit of a pratt tbh

[Christelle2207]

Your friend is bu

[mothmagnet]

If you have savings of over £6000, you will not be eligible for JSA.

Good luck with job hunting, I am in the same position.

[Jins]

Yes you should claim it. Your redundancy package and household income won't be considered and you'll be entitled to JSA for 6 months. I got loads of support during this time and got access to business start up advice and grants.

[SarahBumBarer]

Doesn't getting JSA (even the contributions based version) also help preserve your entitlement to state pension. Therefore it would be ridiculous not to claim it - or does your friend thing you should forego some of your pension too as a result of having a redundancy pay out?

[SarahBumBarer]

Toughasoldboots is right - savings have no impact on contributions based JSA - you paid in you get out. Simples.

[Jins]

Yes it covers NI contributions.

[HauntedLittleLunatic]

You should be eligible for the first 6 months. I was (but didn't claim as I wasn't looking for work which made me inelligble IYSWIM).

[FiftyShadesofViper]

If you are entitled to it I would claim it.

However when DS was at uni we put money in an ISA for him each year as our "contribution" to his fees (school advised don't pay directly as student loan not repayable if don't find good job, etc). His JSA was reduced to almost nothing as he had savings and it was way less than £25k

[SarahBumBarer]

Peresumably though Fifty DS had not made any contributions so he was claiming income based JSA and not contributions based JSA. Savings are relevant to income based JSA.

[Akermanis]

The link below tells you what you need to know and yes you will get JSA for 6months and NI credits as well.

www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/benefits_e/benefits_benefits_in_work_or_looking_for_work_ew/benefits_for_people_looking_for_work.htm

[Sarcalogos]

If you are eligible apply.

Also any decent organisation will pay your travel as a legitimate expense for attending interview. Don't forget to claim that as well.

[wfhmumoftwo]

I think you have every right to claim it. You have worked, you have paid into the system, you want another job and will be actively looking for one. This is exactly what the welfare system was designed for. Not sure what you are entitled to but would claim if you can.
At least you will try to get another job which is more than can be said for many people but that is a whole different thread!

[Birdsgottafly]

I would tell anyone that is eligible for a benefit to claim it, if you don't need it donate it to one of the essential charities that have had their funding cut.

I would share less information with your friend.

[TroublesomeEx]

Claim contributions based JSA. It's not based on income so I don't think your redundancy will be counted. You can apply online and then they contact you to make an appointment.

If you're entitled you'll get it, if not you won't.

[TroublesomeEx]

mothmagnet I don't think savings are counted if you're claiming contributions based JSA.

You're entitled to it based on your NI contributions, not whether or not you need it to live on.

[mothmagnet]

Ah, thanks Folkgirl, sorry OP if I misinformed, that was what I was always led to believe on the letters.

The forms are quite thorough - I'm a bit sore after ds's maintenance payments have just been taken off my weekly JSA, leaving me struggling. Was hoping to go self-employed, but that will have to wait.

[ErikNorseman]

YAnbu
Redundancy isn't considered as savings for jsa purposes afaik

[Hammy02]

You can claim. I was in a similar position to you and I could claim. It was only about £70 a week for 6 months max but I claimed it as I was entitled. £25k seems like alot but it soon goes. Especially if your salary considerably contributed to the household bills.

[Lulabellarama]

Sorry for a slight hijack
I am due to leave my job this week after resigning due to moving away from the area (approx 60 miles). Does anyone have any experience of claiming the contribution based benefit in these circumstances?
I'm hoping to find something else quite quickly once we're moved, but we could certainly do with the extra income during the interim.

[OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos]

I have no idea if you can claim it or not because I didn't claim when I as made redundant, despite others telling me to. I felt like I didn't need it, so didn't claim, but I wish I had. I have a new job now, but looking back it seems silly not to take what you are entitled to. Other people do it and have paid in a lot less, so there is no good reason why you shouldn't claim.

[crikeybill]

I don't think you can claim for a certain amount of time if you resigned Lula because you made your self redundant so to speak.

[Lulabellarama]

Thanks crikey, I read something like that, but then something else that seemed to suggest it depended on your reasons for doing so. And of course they don't blooming answer the phone to clarify...