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Original poster

Stupid benefits question

20 replies

VeganVampire · 13/01/2022 15:47

If you leave your job but your partner is still earning enough to cover rent and basic bills (electric, gas, water, council tax), can you claim any type of benefit at all, or do you have to use savings until you hit a (£16,000?) limit? All other living expenses including car, insurance, food, phone, internet etc still to pay.

I'm assuming that you get nothing until you run out of money, but checking just in case.

OP posts:
WouldIBeATwat · 13/01/2022 15:52

If you leave your job voluntarily you may not be eligible to anything at all. They’re also means tested so will depend what your partner earns.

If you have savings, why shouldn’t you be expected to use them?

Danikm151 · 13/01/2022 15:55

You can't claim benefits if you have savings over £16,000
Over £6,000 then a certain amount is taken per £250 over that amount.
The amount of UC provided depends on circumstances(children,renting etc) and earnings reduce that amount (55p per £ earned over the work allowance if you have children. So in some cases a couple may only get £30 per month and others will get £300.

Danikm151 · 13/01/2022 15:56

If you have no children there won't be a work allowance so all of your income is taken into account so 55p for every £ on all or your salary.

Original poster
VeganVampire · 13/01/2022 17:17

Two children, one in college (16) and one at school (12).

I didn't know that you're not eligible for anything at all if you leave your job - does that mean you have to get sacked/made redundant to claim anything ever?

I thought the £16,000 was a 'thing' but wasn't really sure - but I was sure that this was the place to go to get good advice quickly (providing that it's right!), thank you.

OP posts:
CactusFlowers · 13/01/2022 17:19

Some people are eligible for contributions based jsa or esa and that isn’t affected by partner’s earnings or savings. Are you too ill to work or looking for another job?

Original poster
VeganVampire · 13/01/2022 22:26

Neither - a friend is thinking of ditching their job and finding something else. They thought they would get benefits, I thought they wouldn't. I'm not sure if they've already handed notice in as they're assuming that they'll be in another job in a month or two, but have enough savings to last for a few months if not (about 25k I think).

OP posts:
ChrissyPlummer · 13/01/2022 22:30

@VeganVampire

Two children, one in college (16) and one at school (12).

I didn't know that you're not eligible for anything at all if you leave your job - does that mean you have to get sacked/made redundant to claim anything ever?

I thought the £16,000 was a 'thing' but wasn't really sure - but I was sure that this was the place to go to get good advice quickly (providing that it's right!), thank you.

Yes, pretty much. They consider you “voluntarily unemployed” if you just leave. In fact, many years ago, I left a job for a temporary contract which didn’t last. They asked me on my JSA claim to “explain why I left a permanent role for a temporary position”. I did get JSA in the end, but thought I wasn’t going to at first.
MissMaple82 · 13/01/2022 23:05

You cant get job seekers anymore, it will be a uc claim. And they will probably not be able to claim it straight away by way of a sanction as your meant to find other work before leaving. It's all means tested so they'd have to make a joint claim which would take into consideration husbands income which may mean 0 claim if he's got a decent income

MissMaple82 · 13/01/2022 23:07

With 25 k in savings they won't be entitled to anything whatsoever

pisspants · 13/01/2022 23:16

yes you're correct that 16k is the top cut off for most income.based benefits and anything above 6k starts to have an effect. Depending on their National insurance contributions they may get contribution based JSA or ESA for 26 weeks which is not means tested at all.

Babyroobs · 14/01/2022 00:25

@MissMaple82

With 25 k in savings they won't be entitled to anything whatsoever
If they have paid Ni contributions over the past 2-3 years they can apply for contributions based JSA but may not be awarded it depending on the reasons for leaving the job.
ILoveMyCaravan · 14/01/2022 00:50

@MissMaple82 that's incorrect, it's possible to receive contribution based esa with no limit on savings or partner's income.

Fr0thandBubble · 14/01/2022 12:42

So she wants to quit her job voluntarily (just because she doesn’t fancy doing it anymore), her husband earns enough to pay for the basics, and she has £25K in savings, and she wants the taxpayer to fund her? FFS - I despair of some people, I really do.

PicaK · 14/01/2022 13:07

She's in a relationship with someone and the live together.
So their UC application would have to be joint.
Even if she qualified (not sure) they might not get anything due to his income.

pinkyredrose · 14/01/2022 13:10

Neither - a friend is thinking of ditching their job and finding something else. They thought they would get benefits, I thought they wouldn't. I'm not sure if they've already handed notice in as they're assuming that they'll be in another job in a month or two, but have enough savings to last for a few months if not (about 25k I think)

She won't be entitled to anything.

TheHairyDinosaur · 14/01/2022 13:12

Depends on her reason for leaving her employment which would be discussed with the work coach. If say you left because of poor mental health you are unlikely to be sanctioned, but if you just left because you didn't fancy working anymore then I'd expect a sanction.

They would have to put a joint UC claim in, which would then be means tested against partner/spousal income plus savings.

With 25k in the bank and leaving her job because she doesn't want to do it they would receive nothing. If she left for MH reason but still had 25k in savings they would get nothing as they fail on income assesment.

In short qualify for £0 UC.

They will still be entitled to child benefit however if spousal/partners income is below the income threshold.

notthemum · 14/01/2022 13:22

Your friend is very unlikely to receive anything. Her DP will have to make a joint claim. If he earns what the government have decided is enough (I think this is around 25k now) then he will be expected to keep her, pay her bills, feed her and anything else. If there are children they may get a little but will definitely not be much.

CorrBlimeyGG · 14/01/2022 13:27

Why do people post when they don't have the first idea of what they're talking about?

Contributions based (new style) JSA can be claimed where the claimant has paid sufficient NI contributions. The decision maker will look at why they left work and may sanction if they chose to become unemployed. For instance, 'fancied a long holiday' will get a sanction, 'cannot continue in this role due to disability' will not get a sanction.

CorrBlimeyGG · 14/01/2022 13:29

Contributions based ESA may also be an option, if they are not currently fit for work. ESA does not look at the reason why you left work, only whether someone is able to work or not.

Bagadverts · 14/01/2022 13:44

Capital over £16,000 means can’t get universal credit.

Contribution based JSA, now called new style might be paid. If you leave a job you need to show it was reasonable or may have a sanction. See Argument 5

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/sanctions/challenging-a-sanction/

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