To wonder wtf we do now?

[BBQDip]

I've just lost my job- or rather been put on unpaid hiatus for a year. I need to look for temporary work or for something more permanent and just tell me other job I wont be returning. There's nothing I can do about this, it's all above board and I dont want to go into any more detail incase it outs me.

DP and I both on low income, never had enough to save for this sort of thing happening. Obviously I am applying for almost every job I can but this process takes time and given that we are living paycheck to paycheck anyway, I don't know how we're going to manage.

Family can help us out with a few quid here and there (small amount for shopping or fuel) but we have rent to pay and bills we committed to when we were both earning.

I cant claim jobseekers or universal credit and our tax credits wont change either. Basically we have gone from two incomes to one but with nothing else to make up the shortfall.

I don't expect handouts but this isn't sustainable and I'm panicking that if I dont land a job in the next week or two we'll be royally fucked.

We cant even claim school meals for DS as tax credits have fucked up our claim.

Ive tried entitled to but to no avail. We have nothing of value to sell except the car (which is a banger and would barely cover half the amount lost on my wage anyway).

How do you cope when this happens?

why can't you get JSA and why do your tax credits not go up if you are on a low income and lost your job?

can you get a proper welfare check at cab or so?

I'd just apply, apply, apply. anything you can sell in the meantime? Can your DH get a second job if you cannot find anything quickly (it's tough but I had to do it once too as a short term measure)?

Can you register with a temp agency to tied you over. Plus places like Argos, Debenhams and Tesco will be taking on Christmas staff about now. Might not be a long term solution but might give you a bit of breathing space to sort yourself out.

Can you try to get an appointment with the CAB? They can do a benefits check, they can potentially check / assist with your employment situation if necessary. If nothing else you may benefit from a food bank referral... when I was on Mat leave the CAB sorted food bank for me as we were utterly screwed financially with only my mat pay & CB coming in.

This sounds very suspicious, I can't imagine any circumstance where an employer can basically sack you for a year but apparently not completely? I don't mean you're lying, more that what you're describing has been done to you doesn't seem above board at all. And somehow you're sacked and yet can't claim JSA? I'd love to be proved wrong but it doesn't add up. Unless you're on a zero hours contract but if that were the case they wouldn't be saying we'll have you back in a year.

You can walk into a job at McDonald's, delivering pizza for a takeaway if you have a car, cleaning, and care work pretty quickly. I'd get in touch with one of the above to get some money rolling in while you find something more sustainable. I'm a qualified professional unlikely to lose my job but if I did I wouldn't hesitate to grab some shifts in a factory in between getting another 'career job'.

We've just had postcards through the door from Royal Mail saying they are looking for extra staff in the lead up to Christmas. Worth enquiring where you are?

Sorry OP that's really shit.

First up, if you have any debt type bills, creditors, you need to inform them of the situation immediately and work out payment breaks - you don't need to be getting more into debt.

Sign up with some agencies for temp work - most temp work is still paid weekly.

Send DS in with a packed lunch till you're sorted.

how can any company create a one year employment hiatus????

Argos are recruiting for Staff all over the UK at the minute.

If you have any retail or customer service experience, try the major supermarkets and other shops for Christmas temp work now.

I'm assuming the OP is on unpaid suspension from work. Not suspicious, it would explain why she is unable to claim JSA despite having lost income from the job. If she quits she won't get JSA anyway.

YY to contacting creditors - better to do it now than let the problem escalate & fees get added.

Try facebook or the credit crunch section for ideas on frugal living - there's groups which specialise in this, they can help you cut your grocery bill.

I'm in a similar position at the moment, and would really appreciate some advice too. I don't have access to credits or qualify for JobSeekers' either, but am lucky to have family to help me out.

It is worrying but we will get there OP!

Never heard of an employer forcing you to take an unpaid break of a year Sounds very odd - have you taken advice to double check they can do this?

Very sorry to hear this OP.

There's lots of good advice already - appointment with CAB to double check whether there is any financial aid you are entitled to that you aren't aware of; ask at McDonalds / Post Office / pizza places for jobs; register with a temp agency

Best of luck

oh - and check if you can take a mortgage holiday - even a month would help

Not trying to pry into your business and I don't know how it 'works' in the UK, but if you've been put on leave from your job due to, perhaps, MH issues or addiction struggles are there temporary disability benefits that you may be eligible for?

My son struggles with PTSD and anxiety. He is currently ending an extended leave from his job after a breakdown. There is nothing to be ashamed about in saying "I'm struggling and need a break".

How to cope hmmm if it were me I would do my utmost to get a job firstly. Then I would cancel anything I possibly could cancel ie Sky,Neflix, change the fuel supply to meters ,walk everywhere instead of take the car. I would go to the shops when the oops were on and just buy those.I would do stews, casseroles,pasta bakes, egg and chips use my slo cooker, I would work in a charity shop for free because I know for a fact they all have first dibs at the good stuff. I would get an overdraft or very low paying loan. I would not get a credit card . Christmas would be cancelled and so would birthdays ,any eating out or drinking or entertainment would be out of the question. In other words it would be hard but I think doable Good luck op

HomeSense and TK Maxx are both looking for seasonal staff at the moment.

Agencies have always worked for me and I know for a fact in my area at the moment they're crying out for admin workers. Have to say though you need to be able to offer full time hours for the must part to maximise your chances.

Bar work if you can do the hours and are physically able is another good 'quick start' kind of job.

Also worth a stroll round local high streets /news agent windows to see if there are any jobs advertised.

Good luck

Thankfully we rent and are on very good terms with landlord- if we have to miss a month's rent I don't envisage it being too much of a problem but I'm reluctant to go down the route of making up payments in the future since I'm likely to be on a low income when I do find work so I wont have any extra to cover it.

I've applied for lots of Christmas temp jobs and I have really good long term experience and references in retail so I'm hoping that will work in my favour, however several of the closing dates are some weeks away so even if I got an immediate start I still might be without income till about November!

I think an appointment with CAB is a good idea, I'll look into that tomorrow, thanks.

I realise my situation sounds odd, I've delibarately been vague as I'd rather not be recognised when I'm posting something this personal but it's all legit and I had the option of agreeing to tge hiatus or quitting altogether- at least this way I can keep my options open?

I think I'm feeling panicky and a bit redundant because other than applying, I seem to just be twiddling my thumbs.

Thanks so much for all the advice, it really helps to hear some sensible thoughts when my head is all over the place

What makes you think you can't claim jsa?
If you've contributed via NI for the last two tax years, you should get it regardless of your DP's income.
Have you actually put in a claim? Even if you don't think you qualify (can't think why not unless you have no recourse to public funds?) make a claim to protect your NI while out of work.
It is very difficult to advise you without further info though.

I had the option of agreeing to tge hiatus or quitting altogether- at least this way I can keep my options open?

Sounds more like you've limited your options if you can't claim any JSA etc.

Have you confirmed with your employers that you can take other paid work in the meantime? If you are still technically employed by them there might be restrictions on other paid work.

I don't think changing to meters is necessarily a good idea - the price per Kwh tends to be higher. Also it's not always convenient to purchase the top-ups as needing them doesn't always coincide with being able to afford them. But, it might be worthwhile to look at whether you can get a better deal with another supplier. Check your current supplier for any exit fees first though, & whether they can offer you a better deal too. Actually that's good advice for all services.

I know what you mean about panicking being off work. I've been off sick for a few weeks. I'm hoping to go back very soon, but we don't have a second income, so it's different. Really stressful worrying about money in addition to the cause of the problem.

Is there anything you could potentially do to earn some money from home? Take in ironing, offer to sew on name tapes on school clothes (bit late for that but in future maybe).

You should speak to your union, bigger unions like Unite have welfare advice and also a scheme where they will pay you back some money you've previously paid in dues while you're sick or on unpaid leave. It won't be anywhere near what you've lost in salary but it's something. They could also advise on your current situation which sounds very dodgy.

I haven't paid NI for the past two years. The job I have lost was paid training which has now been suspended.

Although the HMRC website says I have paid full NI?

If you do office work, you will do better to go to a couple of temp agencies, I'm sure they will find you work, which may lead to a permanent job.