To quit my job

[Superhumancrew]

So much to this but try to keep it breif. I am currently in a situation where i work 12 hrs a week, earning less than i would on JSA, the shifts are evening, which were OK when taken as was alongside other work, and had childcare from parent and ex dp.

I have severe chronic depression. Parent who part does childcare one evening has had health scare, in hospital tomorrow, possible on going condition. May need support from me, let alone be able to do childcare. I feel like i hardly get to see my child (shes in full time school, and at ex p's half weekend).

I am just so depressed at the moment i am suicidal. I can barely get out of bed to function, keep up with flat and look after dd, let alone face people. I feel like i have no outer skin, keep having to run off to cry. I am not a very strong person at the best of times, but my best friend killed herself recently, I have broken up from a long term partner in the last year and a half, and now this healthscare with a family member. I am fed up of never seeing my daughter, of being broke and anxious. Originally i through myself into my work as a means of structure and stability, but now the stress and anxiety of having to leave the house is bringing me to tears. coupled with the fact i earn much less in this work than i would on JSA.

I know this sounds pathetic and people cope with much more, but im fed up of putting on the face to be strong. I just want to throw in the towl and concentrate on my daughter and have nothing else to be worried of for a bit. But then what? i dont know. I could try to top up the income with JSA (im currently £600 in debt) but the forms are so complicated i cant work it out and im always not able to find the paper work i need to support the claim.

Im off to work now, so wont be able to reply for a bit. but would appreciate an outside perspective. got no one to ask in real life.

[TheSnowFairy]

Ok. Debt aside, what do you get out of work? Is it sociable? Do you enjoy what you do? Are you appreciated?

'but now the stress and anxiety of having to leave the house is bringing me to tears'

From your post, I do not think staying at home is the best option because of this section. If you did give up work, what then? Other than seeing your child, what else would you be doing? It concerns me that you feel you want to shut out the world.

[Babyroobs]

Before you quit your job, I would see your Gp to see if there is any more help/ therapy you can have for your depression. He may suggest you need to be signed off work until you feel better, but that doesn't necessarily mean you have to give up your job.

[Lilaclily]

Could you ask to change your hours so you can work in the day whilst your dd is at school?

[The80sweregreat]

I hate to be a doom merchant but look up the rules for JSA. you may well be sanctioned because you gave up your job voluntarily, so, for a while at least, you wont be entitled to any money. Might be worth looking into this first. I do not know the rules, but I am sure you wont be looked on favourably if you just resign.
I agree with babyroobs about seeing your GP too. explain how you feel, they might even sign you off with a sick note for a while, might give you some breathing space to work out want you want to do ( or even look for another more family friendly job or something) might also be worth asking for better hours at work too? is your employer approachable?

[rollonthesummer]

If you quit your job, I doubt you will get any JSA.

[IssyStark]

Are you claiming any benefits at present? As you are only working 12 hours you may be entitled to more than you are getting.

But definitely don't just quit now. See your GP first and see if you can get signed off for a bit, and then you can try and fort out the best course of action.

[RortyCrankle]

If you quit your job for what the Job Centre deem to be without good reason, they can delay your JSA for up to 26 weeks. Even if they accept your reason they won't just pay you to remain at home with your child, you will be expected to attend interviews at their offices weekly and show them proof of jobs for which you have applied, interviews attended etc. This happened to someone I know - it is definitely a bad idea to quit.

[Softkitty2]

Your job gets you out of the house which is a good thing. If you quit you may become more isolated

[SnatchedPencil]

I think you should speak to your doctor. Feeling depressed and suicidal is having a severe impact on your life and it needs treatment and support from a professional.

Could you speak to Citizens' Advice about benefits? They may be able to help you with the forms. If you are only working 12 hours a week and earning less than you would on JSA alone then I am fairly sure that you are entitled to claim something.

I echo the other view that you should be careful about just quitting your job. JSA can be withheld if they don't think you have a good enough reason for quitting. A doctor's professional opinion that you are depressed would of course help your case here. Remember too that they would expect you to continue to look for work while on JSA, so you may end up pressured into taking a similarly-paid job as you're in now.

Is there anyone at work who you could speak to for support? A HR department or similar point of contact who could help you with the forms for income support? If they think you're doing a good job then they will want to help you rather than risk have you leave. (If they don't think you're doing a good job, they might take this as an opportunity for you to "be made redundant" (on paper even though it's really by mutual agreement) which would mean that you would be able to claim JSA).

By the way £600 may feel like a huge amount of debt in your circumstances but it really isn't that much in the grand scheme of things. Have you spoken to whoever you owe the money to to ask them for more flexibility in repaying? If they know you are on a very low income, they may take the view that something is better than risking you defaulting entirely. My advice on the debt is to not let it grow. It is very easy to think "what's another hundred quid" but if debt is allowed to grow it can build into a much more frightening amount.

[Superhumancrew]

Thank you for the replies everyone. The general jist is that i should keep at it, thought it might be :(

i do understand the need to get out the house, and for the last year i have been really pushing to keep optimistic about it but its crashing down now. Its a minimum wage job (think cleaner) not social at all, harah chemicals which are having an ill effect on my hands and skin. Someones got to do it, i understand that, and i dont think im too good for it as such, if anything i worry im not doing a good enough job as i keep dazing off and forgetting stuff. I have a degree and an award for some academic work i did but due to my circumstances, having a break down and a relationship break down i've never been able to do anything with it. When i get too involved in my academic work i go a bit crazy, shut myself off and stop eating etc. Doing more physical work was meant to balance out that but im still just depressed and crazy but for different reasons.

I've been to the drs so many times for the depression, they couldnt give two shits. Ive been hospitalised due to low weight, had cbt, tried anti-depressents. Had blood tests and heart monitors to see if the mood wings are related to health problems. They've given up on me now.

I just come in to an empty flat after walking back through a dodgy badly lit area, with nothing to show for it. I know im wallowing in self pity now, i honestly have spent the last 6 months trying to see the bright side i just dont think im cut out for life really.

I am on housing benefit, and in a housing association flat, and get child tax credit, still not enough to live on. The reason i would give JSA is that i no longer have childcare for one of the nights. I am definitly entitled to get the 4 hrs topped up with JC, it is just a pita, means i have to sign on every week and rubs in the fact that i am literally working for nothing in a job i hate which means i hardly see my DC. Tbf my depression is partly situational, it just cant see a way out of this rut,

[QueenLizIII]

I had to claim JSA recently after losing my job. A redundancy situation.

I was asked to provide my original dismissal letter to prove I lost my job. If you quit you just wont be given JSA.

Can you see if there are other benefits you can claim to top up earnings?

can you see your GP? If you are severely depressed. if they signed you off could you get sick benefits?