No job, but DH doesn't want to sign on, should he?

[Flum]

Heres the background. Dh comes from a pretty privileged background but has had an unusual career mostly because no degree and he spent 10 years as professional sportsman. Then he started a business which failed due to cash flow problems after 4 years.

It went into liquidation 2 months ago. He is looking for a business development type job, but is difficult as he doesn't have a 'classic' CV background.

Anyway I want him to sign on in the mean time as I figure:

1. He is entitled having paid tax etc for years.

2. Any money we get from JSA or housing benefit will not have to be paid back unlike the alternative - loans from institutions or family, which will have to be paid back.

3. We both have very supportive families (v. lucky) but don't want to ask them as we are in our 30's and figure we shouldn't still need bailing out now.

He is worried about signing on because he thinks:

1. We are not as much in need as other people ( I disagree as we have no income and v. high rent and council tax to pay and no savings)

2. He thinks it will count against him in the future ie in looking for credit, eg Mortgage application or Insurance policies. DOES ANYONE KNOW IF THIS IS TRUE?

3. A bit of pride makes him not want to go down and sign on.

I come from a much more ordinary family and see no stigma in signing on while you are looking for work. but, IS THE STIGMA REAL? Can it count against you.

DH is convinced we will end up super wealthy some how. I admire his confidence but am more worried about current state of finances.

Should I continue to mither him about it or drop it and let him do it his way. I don't want to be nag and it is becoming a bit of a rift between us and we have only been married for 2 months

This is my first post like this, opening out my heart, but really need the advice. Spose should go to Citizens Advice Bureau or something really.

i think as far as they are concerned flum, if you have savings then you should have paid off your debts with them. im not sure how it works with couples. single parents i think are allowed to have £3000 and claim benefit...any more than that and the benefit would be adjusted as they see fit. £8000 i dont think anyone would be entitled to benefit. but like i say, im only going on what ive been told as a single parent, i dont know how it works with couples. fwiw, theres nothing to be ashamed of claiming benefit, thats what benefit is there for, people who need it to get by for a while. (or should be there for, its the people who abuse it that give the rest of us a bad name) ive never heard of it affecting anything in the future either but i cant confirm this obviously.

I'm not ashamed about it at all. My DPs finding it a bit tough though. all our friends are really quite wealthy both in their own right and family money, so it is tough in comparison I guess. We also have very supportive families so we are very very luck.

lucky even

Not quite the same circs, Flum (not the family background for a start) but DH was made redundant on the 10th and he was down the Jobcentre like a shot!

We haven't had anything yet and don't know what we are entitled to or when we will get it, the forms you have to fill in are a nightmare, but "not as much in need as other people" is a total irrelevance - he has no job so you need whatever you can get!

I don't know but honestly don't believe that claiming unemployment benefit has any effect at all on your credit status. DH and I were both unemployed for a bit, years ago, after packing our jobs in and travelling for a few months, and it didn't impact on us at all then.

I know the trouble is we both used to be pretty well paid jobs, mine not so good but ok. Means we ended up with high out goings eg quite high rent, all the sky channesl (waste money in my opinion), 2 x Blackberries etc anyway loads of monthly outgoings

Janh - hope your dh gets sorted soon too. I think am going to get a second interview for job I went for. Sort of hope I don't get it thoguh even though skint. Will be gutted to put dd (20 months ) into daycare for 50 hours plus a week. Poor love, shes got used to having me around and I've got used to hanging out with her and the 'slower' pace of being SAHM. Not sure am ready for the 'headless chickenness' of fulltime job and running a home too.

Our life is gonna be like this though as DH is Entrepreneur. THink its gonna be boom and bust.

Jan,
Don't forget any other benefits besides Job Seeker's Allowance you may be eligible for! Your husband and you paid NI all those years, don't feel badly about getting help when you need it. Check out www.entitledto.co.uk, or the DWP website, which has an A-Z list of benefits.

No, it will not affect your credit at all - not paying bills will, of course.

Wishing you all the best of success in landing new jobs asap!

TrickorFlum - why not sell some of your stuff on Ebay for some quick cash?

Also tell dh that SKY is going until he 1) gets a job or 2) signs on. I think this may be a powerful motivator. if you think it's a waste of money and you are now paying for it - well it's your call.

Hi
Your dh should sign on if not just so his N.I contributions are paid. Plus if you have any loans or credit cards you would be able to claim if you have income protection on them but you need proof that you are signing on. If it takes him longer than he thinks to find a new job he maybe able to get help through the job center with setting up a new buisness etc.