Can I register as unemployed but not claim?

[Faroe]

I’ve been at home with the kids and now I’m actively seeking work since the start of the new year as the youngest is at secondary school.

My husband has a good wage so I don’t need benefits, but I really could do with some advice on how to get back to work and would welcome meetings with people that know about these things to look at ideas. I’m a graduate and was a computer programmer many moons ago, but have absolutely no idea how it works now (I’ve had a look, and I’d be hopeless at it now, certainly couldn’t compete with recently trained people) so I’m basically back to square one.

I’d also obviously value NI contributions which I think you get if you are proven to be seeking work - would that count if I’m not claiming any benefits? Can I even register as unemployed? I’m knocking on 50 and worried I might be unemployable after so long out of it.

Lots of people retrain to get back into it, lots of women are doing so - you certainly wouldn't alone. There were a few threads about returning to tech careers, I'll see if I can find them

I signed on a few years ago as a 'woman returner to the work force' as they used to charmingly phrase it!. Completed all the same forms and had to be looking for work in the same way. I didn't receive any benefit as my contribution record wasn't up to date but I did receive an N.I credit.

Other than that I didn't receive any help or advice

www.mumsnet.com/talk/feminism/4276750-Women-returners-in-tech?page=2&reply=108471020

007DoubleOSeven thanks for that -I’ll have a read. I’m fairly certain my skills are obsolete, but I did have the aptitude. If I could find a way to retrain I’d jump at it.

gatekeeper that’s interesting - the advice/incentive of regular meetings I thought would be helpful, sounds like they don’t hassle you as much if you aren’t costing anything?

Are you registered for Child Benefit? If so, you automatically get NI credits until the youngest is 12.

If your husband is over the £60k threshold, you can register but opt out of payments. (If he is between £50-60k and you receive the payments, there is a sliding scale for repaying via Self Assessment.)

I see your youngest is secondary aged, so may be too late for the NI credits if you aren't already registered.

I don't know about signing on but I'm pretty sure that the National Careers Service can help you with some of the advice you want.
Also there are some more local organisations who still have funding to help "economically inactive" people with similar skills. Try googling 'Building Better Opportunities " and see if anything comes up for your area.