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

Are you in a UC area? Assuming he has the relevant NI contributions he can get JSA OR UC for 6 months. You have to declare your savings because hiding them is a criminal offence. He needs to look for another job, any benefits he gets will be reliant on his looking for work and being available for work - if he signs on and they have a placement he has to take it or not take the benefits.

Yea tbh it probably could be unfair dismissal for exercising a stat right but the award for that probably wouldn't make it worth while.

Could you suggest he appeals his termination stating that he believes it was due to exercising a stat right? He could be reinstated who have would surely be a relief and worth a shot?

The other thing is that he could still apply for jobs now and if he gets a job offer he could that he is not available to start until, say, 1st October. That’s not unreasonable as many candidates would have a notice period anyway. It would still allow him time with the baby and it means he could get on with job searching - and claiming JSA - now.

How much are your outgoings per month? How long would that 6k last? Not too sure how tax credits work these days but would you be able to claim tax credits and child benefit and top up from your savings for a couple of months?

Yes I second him looking for work ASAP and setting start date 4 weeks after your due date.

It's harsh to point out that it's a pisstake to expect the state to fund a parent's time off to bond when there is already one parent at home FT?

He knew he was on probation but still, just weeks into the job, wanted to take time off. And you wonder why he was let go?

He took on this job thinking he would have more time at home even though it was £800 a month less pay.

And he did this knowing you were already very far along in pregnancy instead of sticking with what was his last employment where he may have worked long enough to get paid paternity leave for two weeks?

Honestly, he needs to focus less on more time at home and more on getting a job because that £6k isn't going to go far and you will be expected to use it before getting any income-based benefits and that includes housing benefit (which, if you are in a UC area, is all rolled into one).

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?

With less than 24 months service you can be sacked for any non-discriminatory reason or none.

He has applied for some this morning he just doesn't want to start right away. He was planning on paying the rent out of our savings we have £2000 from my car crash due so that should keep us a float.

It's not ideal really but dd is his first child and he really wants to be at home for a a week or two.

I'm looking into benefits now see if we are entitled to anything.

Losing his job is a serious matter, and it can be very depressing. He's going to have a head and heart full of emotions with a child due. He is most likely putting a brave face on things, and also realising that sometimes, you can't just walk into another job, and preparing to see some benefit (of being around for you and DD) until he does find one.

There's no point in him hitting the panic button whilst you're pregnant and staying as calm as he can.

Some industries are much worse than others, but it's not uncommon for probation periods to be abused by employers as a means to take on casual staff at lower rates than usual then get rid of them for the next person hoping the probation will lead to a permanent job.

I am prob being seen to be harsh. But you've got savings, you made an offhand comment about having to cut down on meals out in the same post as saying your outgoings aren't that much, your oh has lost a job in suspicious (imo) circumstances and he wants to live off benefits so he can spend time at home.

Suggesting that's not very mature or responsible isn't harsh I don't think. It's pointing out the obvious.

What if he can’t find a job quickly, once he decides to do so? It’s not always easy to find a new role after being sacked. How long will that £6k last?

I think he needs to start job hunting straight away. Even if you can start a job straight away it will take weeks between applying for most jobs and actually starting it by the time they do references etc.

What was the actual reason given for termination, OP?

He probably will get nowhere with unfair dismissal. He was a month into a job and already asking for leave. C'mon. Who does that?

How much are your outgoings per month? How long would that 6k last?

^^This. And depending on the length of time it takes for payments to be made in your area you might be quite a way into those savings before you receive anything.

Unless you know his skills are hugely in demand, he needs to start looking for another job immediately and then try and negotiate a start date but it's not a given that the benefit system might support this (depending on whether UC has been implemented in your area).

Fact is he doesn't know how long it will take him to get another job- then there's working for a month before he actually gets paid. Yes time off with a newborn would be lovely, but how lovely will it actually be with the stress of dwindling savings.

The problem is it's silly season with everyone on holiday , then if he waits it's going in to Xmas. He could in effect spend 6 months out of work before earning again.

Depending on what he does, he may need to sign on to agencies, he needs to find a job

“ that £6k isn't going to go far and you will be expected to use it before getting any income-based benefits and that includes housing benefit (which, if you are in a UC area, is all rolled into one).”

Nope, not true. Please see my post at 15.21. Savings under £6k are disregarded for means tested benefits. All savings have to be declared obviously. But under £6k they don’t disqualify at you at all.

Even people on benefits are entitled to have a modest amount of savings. Thankfully.

YOu've still got 4 weeks to go. He can sign on with an agency and get temp work for a week or two. The other thing is, if you are in a UC area, it will be a minimum of 5 weeks before you see a penny. For JSA the wait can be similar, it's not unheard of. Why did he leave his last job for this one, knowing he'd be on probation when you delivered and not entitled to any leave, paid or unpaid? That's pretty irresponsible.

You have to cut back to the bare minimum as best you can - you need to make that stretch for as long as you can (and obviously it's an expensive time having a child).
Ironically, looking for work can increase your costs. Travelling to find jobs costs money, and the Job Centers aren't always that helpful, and quite often they're very demotivating places.

Start looking at all your household bills too - quite often when you have money, you get lazy with the best energy tariffs etc and don't bother to switch. Start doing that now.

Also, look at stuff like Sky - you don't NEED it, and if you really feel a need for it, call them, reduce your package or even threaten to cancel - they will usually offer you a better deal. Be prepared to actually quit though and explain your husband has lost his job - so they understand you are serious about quitting.

@ADastardlyThing I meant that it's not our outgoings im worried about as we practically have none apart from gas and electric. But things we will need to cut down on is eating out so many times a week.

Emma, the payments will be reduced due to savings, you don't get the full whack. And again, if he's in a UC area, they don't pay you at all for 5 weeks. So you have to use whatever you have to pay bills.

Look sensibly at the reality - Baby may not be here for another 6 weeks plus 3-4 weeks off with baby makes 9-10 weeks. If he starts in ten weeks then he may be looking at another 4 weeks before he gets paid.

You need to look at living the next 14 weeks on as little as possible.

By the time he got an interview, asking for a start date of 10 weeks from today won't seem bad. It is likely to be less than 8 weeks from interview date which is fine, in fact my notice period is 8 weeks.

As long as he is looking that's fine. Just do a budget and live within your means.

You can also sometimes take a 'holiday' from your mortgage - for a few months, it might be worth looking into this too, or just reducing the payments. As sad as it sounds, you have to start preparing. Sounds a bit dramatic, but it's sensible too.

Tbf meals out will probably stop for a while anyway when baby is here op!