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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To resign and claim benefits

83 replies

NearlySpring · 15/11/2011 16:42

Posting for my colleague here at work as I have no idea what advice to give her and Ive told her you're all very knowledeable. :)

She works with me, full time, claims tax credits, pays her own rent on her council house. She has a 8 yr old son and has a childminder for before and after school care.

She has lots of debt which she has managed to arrange payment plans for and is paying back. However, her finances don't work out for her. Even with tax credits help with childcare she is getting more and more overdrawn each month. She has no family to help and receives no child support for her child as her partner (son's father) died 6 mths ago :(

She has been looking for work for ages, either better hours so less childcare costs or same hours and more money. She has finally found a job that pays more, and been offered the job but it doesn't start til March. I suggested perhaps she resigns and claims benefits using the next few months to spend time with her son and have a break and relax (she's had a tough time due to the death of her partner). Plus looking online she is actually no worse off on income support (taking a break from her debt payback arrangements due to being out of work) than she is working full time, paying childcare etc. She's not been out of work before so it's not like she's workshy or anything.

AIBU to have suggested this to her? It's only for 4 months after all. Would she be able to claim inome support or jobseekers even though he resigned as she has a valid reason (childcare costs) to do so?

OP posts:
NoMoreWasabi · 15/11/2011 17:24

I agree that looking at her outgoings are the way forward here. The moneysavingexpert.com debt free wannabe boards are also useful to get help to cut down expenses and help pay off debt.

missymarmite · 15/11/2011 17:41

I agree it isn't good advice. Mainly because you can't claim income support if you quit your job.

I am very shocked at the callous and judgemental attitude of some posters though. It is very hard these days for many people to balance the books. With the best will in the world there comes a point where it is impossible to make more cut backs on expenses except basic food and heating or even childcare. That someone can't manage to stay out of debt doesn't necessarily mean they are spendthrift.

I second the idea of going to get advice from the CAB and online.

myfriendflicka · 15/11/2011 17:53

She is a widow. If her partner worked and paid national insurance she should be getting Widowed Parents Allowance.

She can check here www.directgov.gov.uk

Six months after a bereavement is nothing. Some of you are distinctly lacking in compassion heartless bunch of shits who I would be very glad to meet in real life and have a chat with rabbit punch repeatedly

I shouldn't come on these threads. However, get her to check about WPA.

And before anyone asks, it is a contributed benefit, ie her partner paid in and she gets the pay out, as she bloody well should.

I'd like to see some of you naysayers dealing with this sort of situation. No compassion, self righteous little shits should be bloody ashamed of themselves Angry

ChangeyMcChangeaLot · 15/11/2011 17:56

Is she a widow if they aren't married?

HeresTheThingBooyhoo · 15/11/2011 18:05

who said she was a spendthrift?

and my posts are directed squarely at the OP for giving her friend crap advice. so you can toddle away off with your lack of compassion and rabbit punching shite and keep hold of that shame you are happily dishing out.

littlemisssarcastic · 15/11/2011 18:13

OP, What makes you think your friend will get a break from her debt payback arrangements if she isn't in employment?? Confused

Does anyone else know if you get off with paying your debt back while you're on benefits like IS/JSA? I've never heard of that before.

MincePieFlavouredVoidka · 15/11/2011 18:14

You gave her bad advice, you need to rectify that before she does anything rash, like resigning from her job.

HeresTheThingBooyhoo · 15/11/2011 18:16

you dont little miss. the bills keep a-comin'.

ShirleyKnot · 15/11/2011 18:19

I am genuinely confused at the frothing going on here and the claims that people are calling the OP's friend a scrounging lazy fucker. The vast majority of the posts on this thread are HELPFUL and SUPPORTIVE and the shouting and screaming about some posters being compassion free bastards is a complete over reaction to the things that have been said. Seriously, i can't work out if I'm reading a different thread.

EdithWeston · 15/11/2011 18:33

She is not a widow in terns of betting bereavement benefits - you need to have been married.

She will not be able to claim IS as her child is over 7. You cannot claim JSA for 26 weeks after resignation.

So she will most definitely not be better off on benefits, as it is unlikely she will receive any for some time.

The best advice would be to go an see CAB an see if anything more can be done to the debt repayment schedule, or if there are any other financial factors that could be swung in her favour.

I think she does need proper financial advice.

KatieMiddIeton · 15/11/2011 18:34

I often wonder that Shirley. If I'm reading a different thread I mean.

FabbyChic · 15/11/2011 18:46

Ive some advice goes against the majority, go to the doctor, go sick get a sick note for stress/depression get signed off for a month, then go back and get another certificate. Her HB will increase in line with her new sick pay.

littlemisssarcastic · 15/11/2011 18:50
Confused
FabbyChic · 15/11/2011 18:54

The OPs friend pays out more than she gets, she has already reduced her debt repayments, the problem she has is her childcare costs are bleeding her dry, the only chance she has is to earn more to cover the shortfall.

HeresTheThingBooyhoo · 15/11/2011 19:01

"Ive some advice goes against the majority,"

you always do. it's what you do on here.

webwiz · 15/11/2011 19:06

She needs to phone/go into the CAB and sort out a proper debt repayment plan that she can actually afford to manage. There may be other options open to her depending on the debt level that the CAB can explain and help with. They can also check that she is getting everything she is entitled to. She could see what the various "what if" options are and make an informed decision.

ihatecbeebies · 15/11/2011 19:11

Has she checked if she is entitled to any kind of widows allowance at all? If she left her job she wouldn't be able to claim for a few months so she's probably better off working until she starts her new job, could she still take a break from paying the debts off though until she starts her new job?

auntiepicklebottom2 · 15/11/2011 19:13

she would be better sticking out this job, her childminder will not keep the place open for a few months.....she also has bills to pay.

she will loose this childcare and would have to find childcare all over again, which may be more than this childminder is charging.

ihatecbeebies · 15/11/2011 19:13

fabby I thought about her maybe going to see her doc too.

EdithWeston · 15/11/2011 19:14

You have to have been married to get widow's benefits.

(Remember this thread next time there's a "why marry?" thread).

auntiepicklebottom2 · 15/11/2011 19:14

also by earning more money her tax credits will go down

AngelofTheLordiscomingDown · 15/11/2011 19:14

Why can't she accept the job that starts in March and give in her notice just before that? She will not be eligible for any benefits if she removes herself from a job and will not be eligible for Jobseekers Allowance. I've no sympathy for people who leave jobs without one to go to.

ihatecbeebies · 15/11/2011 19:16

sorry Edith Blush I hadn't realised you'd already mentioned she can't get bereavement allowance

mumnotmachine · 15/11/2011 19:17

The only benefit she may be able to claim is ESA, she wouldnt be eligible for JSA or IS.
Sadly not entitled to Bereavement Allowance or WPA unless married

mumnotmachine · 15/11/2011 19:19

Would it be feasible for her to reduce her hours to 16 to fit in with school hours but still be eligible for additional tax credits