Going round in circles trying to find the answers to these questions

[thatsnotmypineapple]

I will try and keep this brief.

I was made redundant at the end of August, which was when I had planned to start maternity leave in any case (all mutually agreed and no issues with this).
Baby was born in mid October, so I am now on a maternity break.

My question is, do I have to sign on in order to register as being unemployed? I had understood that if i don't, it may affect any future eligibility for JSA. I contacted the CAB, but they didn't know, although advised that as I claim child benefit, my NI contributions are protected.

Secondly, I am receiving SMP, but obviously this is only for 39 weeks and I was planning to take 12 months off I.e looking to find a job to start in Sept next year. So if I do need to sign on, at what point do I do it? Presumably I am allowed to take the 12 months maternity (39 weeks OML plus AML) that I would be entitled to if I were employed.

This is not about the financial aspect of unemployment, as I have established that I would not currently be eligible for JSA in any case, and my redundancy package will tide us over for a little while. Having said this, we can't afford for me to be out of work forever, and if, for example DH were to lose his job as well, or our financial situation changes in future, I want to make sure that I have followed the correct procedure now, should I need claim JSA at a later date.

I hope this makes sense.

[yummumto3girls]

You sound like you are making this very complicated!! You are not unemployed, you are on SMP. If you decide that this is not enough and to seek employment then this will stop. Surely it's up to you how long you take off work and you comparable rights if you were employed are irrelevant. Once you sign on you will be expected to demonstrate that you are seeking employment, which you say you are not expecting to do for 12 months. So technically you are a SAHM and will have to accept the financial penalty that comes with that?!

[thatsnotmypineapple]

Thanks for your response. I am just interested to see what category I officially fall into, and as I have said, make sure that I have things covered properly. I was always going to take 12 months before the redundancy and I fully intend to look for work with a view to starting after 12 months. Hopefully it will all be irrelevant in any case.