Hypothetically - work/benefits

[Undercoverbanana]

Hypothetical situation - please advise.

My employer decides I am not fit to do my job and never will be and so makes me take forced redundancy. Do they have to pay me anything in those circumstances?

What benefits would I receive as a single person, no dependants, house-sharing?

TIA

Depends how long you've been there, your age, the rent and the Local Housing Allowance.

3 years.

Rent is a casual arrangement so no contract but share bills.

How would I find out the Local Housing Allowance, please?

If you've been there 3 years then you do actually have employment rights- before that they can pretty much just let you go as long as they're no daft enough to (obviously) do it because of a protected characteristic. Redundancy is a bit more complex. You make a position redundant not a person. It's not redundancy if they're booting you to get someone else in. Doesn't mean you can't both call it that and get some hush money of course!

Doubt you'll get housing benefit without a contract of some kind. Just google whatever area you live in plus local housing allowance.

As you're over 25 you get full JSA rate of £73, if entitled to JSA of course. Less if you're younger. No working or child tax credit when not working and no kids. You also need to find out if you're in a Universal Credit area or not- again, google.

Check out the ACAS website for forced redundancy. You have rights.

How do I know if I’m entitled to JSA, please?

This is really helpful.

I’ve just read that you have to work less than 16 hours per week to get JSA. I am full time.

So am I right in thinking that I’m not entitled to anything?

I don't think that is correct - I think you would be able to claim it, but once you get a job earning over 16 hours then you wouldn't be able to claim anymore.

Google the Turn2Us benefits calculator, it's really good. You can have a play with different scenarios and it'll tell you what you're entitled to claim.

The bit about JSA only refers to people claiming it at the same time as working, if they're classed as being under-employed.

You will be able to claim it if you're out of work and haven't resigned.

Undercover no one is entitled to JSA if they work over 16 hours per week but if you are made redundant you would no longer be employed so can claim JSA or universal credit if that has been rolled out in your area. They pay the same amount but JSA is paid 2 weekly and UC is monthly.

For housing you can claim housing benefit via your local council or as part of Universal credit if that's in your area But you will need proof of rent and a tenancy agreement for either HB or UC.

Your redundancy payment may be taken into account as capital if its over the capital limit

Ah ok - so 4 X £73.00 = £292.00.

Yikes - that’s less than my share of the bills and the food bill.

I get the train to London once a week to care for an elderly aunt too and that costs £35.00.

Then there’s my prescription and my phone.

Shitty mental health. Shit shit shit.

Might as well die now then. DD can inherit all my running gear.

you should get free prescriptions.

also redundancy pay ( 3 months?)

also you could get another job very quickly

I can’t get another job. Who the hell will employ me if my old employer gets rid of me for being too thick/not able to learn or concentrate/mental health issues/acute anxiety (or whatever they will say.)?

No way I would survive an interview. I am a mess.

I pay a direct debit for my prescriptions so it’s cheaper so I don’t pay at the chemist anyway.

It’s starting to get dark and it’s only 9pm. Winter is coming already and I’d rather die than face another winter.

I am a fucking waste of oxygen.

I am assuming you're not fit to do your role through sickness? If I was your employer I would therefore be following my sickness policy (referring you to occupational health, seeing if I could make reasonable adjustments or redeploy you to another role) but if you were not capable of doing your job, and having followed the process, I would be dismissing you for that reason and not giving you any redundancy or payout at all. If you're not fit because you can't do the job for other reasons, I would follow the capability process (supporting you to achieve your objectives) and then potentially dismiss you. Why would they dismiss for redundancy?

That said, if they are going to cobble together a redundancy situation and you have been working there for two years or more then yes, you will get redundancy pay. You can check your entitlement on the gov.uk website.

So they’ll just sack me? I’m so confused. I can’t think. My anxiety is taking over.

I never wanted to be a bad person. I’ve always tried. My friends say I’m really caring and that they love me but I must be so useless.

DP is looking to move abroad with work and I’ll be homeless on £73.00 per week.

I can’t do this anymore.

this is a bad time for you, but you will get through it xxx

If you can't work due to sickness you may be entitled to ESA and/or universal credit.

You may also be entitled to PIP

Do you have a CAB or similar near you? They may be able to offer more accurate advice and reassurance than a forum can. I know what it's like to have severe anxiety and I've been in your situation and face to face help was far more reassuring. The limitations of asking on a forum is we can't actually have all the facts of your situation - and nor should you give them.

If you're incapable of any job you might need to try and claim ESA not JSA, that'll require sickness notes and very likely a medical - your employer has no say in that. JSA can be hard work in terms of applying for jobs and availability for work/work experience/courses etc.

Anxiety/mental health isn't weakness. I know that's easy to say and hard to put into practice as I struggle with it as well.

You may need to look at some sort of contract for where you live, even an informal one, or rent book or something so you can get shared room rate where you live - the LHA calculator is here lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/search.aspx

You poor thing, OP.

Being realistic here, help from benefits will be minimal and I fear, miserable for you.

What kind of work are you in at the moment?

I doubt you are thick. I have done jobs that I just haven’t been very good at - I’m not stupid, they just weren’t ‘me’. What ARE you good at?

Are you and your DP splitting up or can you go abroad with him/her?

Op, if you are ill (mental or physical) then you need to apply for ESA if you lose your job. It is similar to JSA in that it is for unemployed people but those with health issues. You will have a meeting where your health issues are discussed and then they will decide if you need support to get a job or if you are too I'll to work.
Secondly, if your health issues affect you day to day you can apply for Pip.

In regards to housing benefit, your local council webs should have local area rates on and how to apply. You will need a tenancy agreement though.

You can get through this OP, although it will take some effort and determination.

Are you recieving any help for your mental health condition?

I’m really drunk now. Typing slowly.

I’m good at drinking I guess.

And running and swimming.

And I care about justice and inequality.

I have a degree in English that I did on maternity leave and when I was back at work afterwards back in the 90s. Don’t know if it still counts for anything. I’ve never us d it.

I’ve climbed @ lot of mountains and I’m a run leader.

Oh - I started someone breathing again with CPR in Greece.

I’m good at decluttering. Friends always call me in for shit clearing.

I’m good at eating and sleeping.

I’m good at charity shop shopping.

I raised over £70,000,00 for my charity.

Just stuff.