To claim Job seekers Allowance..?

[Rabs6]

So am a professional with a fairly decent wage and my husband earns a good wage.
But I was sacked today- work in private healthcare and moved jobs before Christmas so although unexpected it happens.
Am currently looking for new jobs and don't expect to be out of work for long, but while I am, I am technically entitled to claim.
I have paid tax and NI since I was for over 20 years but it feels wrong to claim if we can get by for a few months without my wage.
Would I be unreasonable to claim?

You are entitled to it, it will also help with your NI credits for your state pension

I don’t think it exists anymore. It’d be a Universal Credit claim, I believe?

Whether you’d be entitled to anything would depend on your joint income, and any savings.

Edit: My apologies, you can still claim contributions based for up to six months if you’re eligible. Then you’d need to be income based and would therefore move onto UC.

There's other benefits to making a claim as pp said and you are entitled to it so take it. You don't know how long it might take, recruitment can take ages even if you secured a post quickly

Presumably you can claim contributions based job seekers ' allowance. I hope you get another job soon.

Yes, claim it!

Claim new style JSA - based on your contribution record. This is not means tested and payable just to you. You can get it for up to 6M.

I know I should but I was looking at it and then felt really weird about applying!

Last time I was unemployed I claimed but it was a pain in the petunias going in to signon so I signed my self off after I stocked up on prescriptions and free dental and opticians appts. I was only out of work six weeks but it was worth claiming for sure

Did you do it ?
I got made redundant after working 28 years , I've got an appointment tomorrow at job centre & I'm absolutely bricking it !
Also not looking forward to weekly or even fortnightly appointments. Will see how it goes and report back here ,

I too can survive without the £90 a week but feel like I've paid in so why shouldn't I ?

Yes claim it if you need the £90.50 a week and don't mind being pushed to look for work and have meetings with a work coach etc. Some may not feel it's worth it.

I claimed it for a couple of months back in 2022. I don't remember the work coach asking much of me just one phone call every few weeks.

Op would not get free prescription or dental if claiming contributions based JSA. You must have been claiming Universal credit instead?

I can deal with a phone call lol, that would definitely be the preference !
The job centre is in a really rough town ,and will cost me approx £7 for train fare or parking / petrol . Approx 25 minutes drive from me .
I really don't like going there either , but obviously realise I can't refuse if work coach insists I come in person .

Always make a claim if you are unsure… they won’t pay you if you do t qualify!

Claim, fortnightly visits , no pressure. I think because it's not like 'proper' JSA - think because you've contributed via your NIC . It only last for a max of 6 months.

So I've been this morning , lady was really nice , my commitments are 35 hours a week job searching and basically a requirement to take any job that's offered to me , up to 3 hours travelling a day .
Very unrealistic , seeing as I will only be earning minimum wage so why I'd travel that far I don't know & I only need to work part time approx 24 hours as am mortgage free & nearly 50 so no desire or need to work full time any longer . Also if I go out of the country even for a day my claim stops, annoying when I have a holiday booked and paid for at Easter .

But i meet my work coach next week and will tell them all this & see where it leads .

Definitely claim, you're entitled to it!

I feel like this , but I also get the impression that they make it super difficult on purpose , can call me in anytime with 24 hours notice , can't go on holiday , have to attend any interview for any job within a 90 minute travel time , job search 7 hours a day, 5 days a week ? I mean WTF
I'm going to meet my work coach next week , another £7 on the train for a 10 minute appointment.

Absolutely- you can get contributions based JSA. You should claim as you've paid in

I think you can ask your JobCoach to refund your travel expenses so get a receipt as well as your ticket. They don’t tell you this you have to ask.

£7 out of £90 JSA is a significant chunk of your benefits

Definitely claim OP.

@bugalugs45

It makes me wonder if the criteria is so strict, how people end up on 'jobseekers allowance' (as it was called) for many years.

Definitely see if you can claim back the parking. Also, expecting you to accept a job within that travel time seems a lot. A woman posted on here recently and said their advisor said they could only accept a 20 minute travel time. Unless that's down to circumstances and having young children.

Wishing you the best of luck.

I claimed years ago and going to the job centre was quite a depressing experience so I hope it has improved.

It’s not only worth it for the NI contributions but also for the employment history factor if you need to undergo any enhanced employment checks, it will account for the gap in your employment. Good luck with the job hunt!

This is non means tested JSA , so basically although I have my redundancy money I can claim , I'm guessing with no max amount of savings or partner earnings taken into consideration ,
So I'm unsure if I can claim travel back but I'll definitely ask .
And it's a 6 month max claim , even if I haven't found a job by that point

You can claim mileage for interviews
you attend. Tell your coach and they'll reimburse you - takes about 36 hrs to arrive in bank account.
Attend any courses they might suggest.
Get your CV looked at by the careers advice service who should be attached to the signing on place - yours might be perfect but you are at least showing an interest.
Show willing - eg if they suggest a job fair - attend. Tell them you've applied for some jobs (which presume you will be doing anyway), volunteer somewhere .
They will also give you money to tide you over if you get a job within the 6 months you are signed up with JSA.