DH about to get the sack, I’m so worried. Can anyone reassure me that we’ll be ok please?

[Ocre729]

I can’t go into details but it’s looking very likely that he’ll get the sack next week. I feel sick to my stomach. I don’t think we’ll be entitled to anything! I earn £1300 a month for 23hrs work, our mortgage payments are £500 a month and we have one DC who’s 12.

We have £4k in savings which I think we could make last for 4 months if we watched every penny. I’ve been going through our outgoings and we’re already very frugal. The only saving I think we can make is our phones.

I just feel horrible. We’re a really hard working family, never claimed benefit before (apart from our £80 a month child benefit).

Has anyone been through this and it worked out ok?

Hi similar happened to us a couple of years ago. DH’s boss was sacked and replaced and within 3 months the new boss made the rest of the team redundant.

It was a really tough time and it took a while for DH to find work again but my income (self employed) was just enough to get us through.

All I can suggest OP is for your DH to get in touch with as many of his contacts as possible and and say he’s looking for work. That was how my DH found his current job. I think there are more jobs not advertised externally than people realise.

I hope it works out for you.

Your income will be topped up with Universal Credit. Apply for that so things aren't so tight. That's what it's there for.

It’s horrible and it’s worrying but you’re in a far better position than many in that you have your income and you have some savings. That gives you some breathing space.

Have you looked at every outgoing that you can cut?

I appreciate you probably don’t want to go into detail of why he’s looking likely to be fired, but will he get a reference do you think? Or is it for a reason that is likely to put off any future employer? He really needs to be thinking about how he can maximize his chance of finding new employment quickly.

Is there a reason he's being sacked? Or do u mean paid off?

There are things that you can do.

UC can be applied for.
Mortgages can be put on holidays (if you have that facility)
Could you increase your hrs whilst DH takes a more proactive role with the children?
He could apply for agencies etc. (may be an issue depending on what he has been sacked for).

Like most things you can and will be able to get through this.

Actually sacked or made redundant? Is he likely to get a reference?
Can you increase your hours?

There’s a reason he’s being sacked. He’s well respected at work, has an excellent attendance record, has worked there for nearly 20 years but has made a serious error (under the pressure of Covid).

Will they still give a reference under those circumstances?

He’ll turn his hand to anything. He’s not proud. I’m just really worried about how we’ll cope. We’ve got no debt though so if we have to use a credit card then that’s what we’ll have to do. We could release some equity from the house as well.

I can’t actually believe this has happened. I feel like I’ve been punched in the stomach.

Thanks for all the messages of reassurance. I don’t want to tell anyone yet until we know for definite. I know it’s pathetic but I’m dreading telling people too.

Not only will you get through this, you will thrive. 💐 The same happened to me in March, single parent. I have dug in and dug out!!!

Here’s the link to the website where you can calculate accurately what benefits you can claim.

benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/AboutYou

(Not that he’s killed anyone or anything, the consequences to the company are financial)

I’ve done the benefits calculator and I don’t think we can claim anything except JSA.

Speak to Citizens Advice about what benefits you’d be entitled to OP before using your saving, credit card etc. I’m sure I’ve read in the past you can have savings and be entitled to some benefits.

And to answer a question, I can’t increase my hours. I have health issues (not ill enough for disability benefit but bad enough to make life really hard).

at 1300/month I'm afraid you probably won't be entitled to much as you will need to make a joint claim. I earn less than you as a single parent and get nothing.

And if he has been sacked you may find that he isn't entitled the jsa bit as they may class it as making himself unemployed.

However, as I say above I earn less than you and have a mortgage that is lower (£300) but I manage fine. I budget, we don't live excessively, no holidays etc, use local offers etc for day trips for dd.

What are all your other outgoings? If mortgage is £500, you have £800 left from your wages plus the £4k savings, so are you saying your monthly expenses on top of the mortgage are £1800 if you think the 4k will only last 4 months? Is there nothing other than mobiles that you could cut from that?

You will work this out and get through it. Is your husband prepared to take any job for now? Can you increase your hours? Do either of you have any skills to work something else part time- tuition/ dog walking/ cleaning / book keeping?

Have you got any credit or get a loan from family if he still doesn't find work after 4 months?

Unless it is something like he ended up putting someone in hospital I would have thought it would be more likely that he would get suspended and then would be allowed back.
I would encourage him to really apologise and to explain to his boss what he will do to make sure it will never happens again. If he is fundamentally okay at his job they won't want to lose him and have the hassle of retraining someone else.

Is whatever he’s done classed as gross misconduct?

Is he in a union?

Sorry- you answered lots while I was writing that!

So theft, fraud, assault, something else where he was clearly aware that what he was doing was wrong regardless of the reason?

OP Can you really not cut back on your bills? Up until recently, we had a household income of £1800pm and a rent of £900, 4 DC aged 6 and under. It was tight but doable.

If it helps, my Dad was fired this time last year and he's now in the best job he's ever had. Loves it, earns more, and wouldn't change a thing. Humans are creatures of habit, so change seems scary, but that doesn't mean it's inherently bad. Much good can come from it. Take care of yourselves. This too shall pass.

The OP said she can't increase her hours.
She said her husband would take any work.
She was quite clear.

Can you increase your hours? My part time colleague has recently gone to full time for a little while as her husband has lost his job.

Sorry. Not reading properly.

@DowntonCrabby

So theft, fraud, assault, something else where he was clearly aware that what he was doing was wrong regardless of the reason?

She said she couldn't be too explicit but the consequences to the company are financial.

OP I do hope this turns out better for you than you fear.

Do you think if he jumps before he’s pushed he might be able to get a reference and a clean record?