OH lost his job today what can we do now?

[MrsHunterx]

I feel so gutted for him even though he says he's not to bothered. He's only been there for four weeks he took yesterday of to take me to the hospital because I was bleeding (36 weeks pregnant) and this morning they have sacked him.

We have about £6000 in savings and 300 in our current account I feel silly saying things are tight but our savings have never been so low.

Are we entitled to any benefits because we have savings? He wants to hold of getting another job until dd is here so he can spend time with her.

Any advice would be appreciated x

[theunsure]

Taking time off to be with a new baby seems to be a luxury you can’t afford? I’d say he needs to get out there job hunting, temping in between if possible to keep the money coming in.

Benefits are not going to be enough I’d imagine and he would need to evidence looking for work. You can’t just opt to not work and expect to be looked after.

You OH doesn’t seem to be taking his financial responsibilities to hisfamily very seriously! I’d be livid tbh

[NameChange30]

He can and should claim contributory JSA (or the equivalent under the new universal credit system if it’s already been introduced in your area), as he will be entitled to it thanks to his NI contributions, and they don’t take income or savings into account. He can claim it for up to 6 months but he will have to be available and actively looking for work. I’m not sure about the rules for new fathers, perhaps he would be excused from job searching for two weeks after the birth (ie equivalent of paternity leave) but he would need to ask his job coach about that.

Are you working atm? Will you get SMP when you go on maternity leave?

After the baby is born you can claim Child Benefit and you’re likely to be eligible for Child Tax Credits too. (Or the equivalent under universal credit.) There are online benefit calculators you can use, or contact/visit Citizens Advice.

[NameChange30]

Also do you rent or have a mortgage?

[TittyGolightly]

He can and should claim contributory JSA (or the equivalent under the new universal credit system if it’s already been introduced in your area), as he will be entitled to it thanks to his NI contributions

He might not have made the required contributions.....

[NameChange30]

That’s true, I was assuming he has.
Always difficult to give definitive advice with limited information.

OP there are some great tips here (love this site!)
www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/baby-checklist/

[Imchangingmyname]

Why did they sack him? Are they allowed to do that without notice?

[kaytee87]

He might be entitled to non means tested JSA.
I hope everything is ok with your pregnancy. Did he phone them to explain why he was taking the time off? Did he make any effort to go in for even part of the day?

With savings of £6k he may not be entitled to any means tested benefits. I think he should be looking for a job ASAP, he can always take paternity leave like most dads.

[MrsHunterx]

We're renting at the moment, we have ds already so I'm guessing I need to claim for ds.

We have everything for the baby already thank god so we don't need to worry about that.

I'm just worried about the rent our outgoings aren't high but we will need to stop going out for meals so many times a week now as it ridiculous how much we spend.

[ADastardlyThing]

He might get jsa if he's been sacked.

Good luck op, he doesn't sound very mature tbh.

[Foxyloxy1plus1]

Are you working or have been and will you have maternity pay? I’m a bit puzzled as to why someone would be sacked for an occurrence such as the one you describe with no prior warning.

You’ll certainly have to cook at home I should think and look to saving costs, at least until he gets something else. How likely is it that he’ll find a job quickly?

£6000 in savings won’t last long if nothing is coming in. Even if rent is low, there’s all the other outgoings to consider.

[NameChange30]

Well it sounds like you need to do a budget and reduce your outgoings.

The threshold for means tested benefits (such as income support, income-based JSA, Housing Benefit etc) is actually £16k. Any savings between £6k and £16k will be counted and will reduce the amount you get. Anything under £6k will be disregarded.

OP you ignored my question about whether you’re working?

If you have no salary or other income then your partner will be able to claim income-based JSA if he hasn’t made enough NI contributions to claim contributory JSA. He should claim both really.

You may well be entitled to Child tax credits and/or housing benefit too. Obviously depends on whether you have any income of your own and if so how much.

[TiffinBox]

m.acas.org.uk

Get him to speak to ACAS about the fact that he was sacked because he took you to an emergency medical appointment. That doesn't sound right to me and he should get some legal advice. What are the terms of his contract?

[ADastardlyThing]

Is this serious? You've got savings, but he wants to claim benefits so he can chill for months but, oh no, it might mean you have to stop going out for meals?

[NameChange30]

(Ps all benefits I have mentioned are old system, it may be universal credit if you are in an area where it’s been introduced)

[MrsHunterx]

He's not entitled to any paternity leave now if he starts a job this is why he doesn't want to start working right away.

He was working for Aston Martin but they have a very strict 12 week probationary period.

I'm not working anymore so I won't be getting any maternity pay.

[Fourscoreandtwitter]

Benefits aren’t a free hand out so your husband can ‘bond’ with his child They are supposed to be there for people in genuine need not for those who can’t be arsed. He needs to find another job.

[PatheticNurse]

They sacked him for having one day off? I find that a bit harsh.

With his attitude towards finding another job, are you sure there isn't more to.it and that was the final straw for the company?

[MrsHunterx]

@AnotherEmma thank you going to see what we're entitled to.

He's not lazy or looking for free hand outs he's always worked this will be the first time he's not worked in his life. He took on this job thinking he would have more time at home even though it was £800 a month less pay.

[ADastardlyThing]

It's extremely unusual for a company to terminate someone even just 4 weeks into a job for taking 1 day stat emergency leave for a pregnant partner with a bleed, sounds like they maybe this wasn't the only thing?

His whole attitude is very concerning op from the little you have posted here, is he ready to be a responsible father and adult? He needs to get a job and grow up.

[TornFromTheInside]

You OH doesn’t seem to be taking his financial responsibilities to his family very seriously! I’d be livid tbh
Precisely HOW did you reach this conclusion from the initial post?
He's lost his job - we don't know how or why, and 'his not bothered' doesn't equate to a lack of concern for family, it can just be putting a brave face on things in light of his partner being 36 weeks pregnant and not wanting create any more stress.

[NameChange30]

Right, so you’re a SAHM which means that he is (or has been) supporting the family financially, and with only £6k in savings he doesn’t want to get a job straight away?! That’s completely irresponsible.

If you weren’t 36 weeks pregnant, you could both look for a job, but realistically you are not going to get one now, and couldn’t be expected to until at least 6 weeks after the birth, so the onus is absolutely on him to step up and find a job. I understand wanting to take time off after the baby is born, but he could always try negotiating that with a new employer - I know dads who weren’t legally entitled to paternity leave but managed to negotiate unpaid leave and/or annual leave with their new employers.

I also agree with the PP who suggested that he checks his contract and contacts Acas to confirm whether or not they had the right to dismiss him and whether it was fair. Unfortunately on probation it’s very easy for them to dismiss him and he has very few rights, but he could at least try asking them to reconsider their decision.

[MrsHunterx]

@PatheticNurse he spoke with his team leader earlier on this week about having unpaid time of when the baby is here as he isn't entitled to any paternity leave and the manager was being funny about it so I think they may just see him as unreliable.

[SpuriouserAndSpuriouser]

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/leaving-a-job/dismissal/after-youve-been-dismissed/

This is the advice if you are in England, if you are elsewhere in the UK it’ll be different but you can find the right info on the relevant section of the website.

[MrsHunterx]

Sorry but I feel some of these replies are quite harsh. He's always looked after us he's not immature and neither does he need to grow up. He's down in the dumps today so I'm not going to make him feel even worse.

[SoyDora]

If he doesn’t want to get a job straight away how does he suggest paying your rent/bills etc?