Can someone please explain how benefits work, please?

[Grockle]

I am a lone parent, get working tax credits, child tax credits, child benefit. I've always worked & never been on any other benefits (apart from DLA)

If I were to resign from my job, just like that, what would happen?

If I were to lose my job through ill health (very likely) or through being dismissed, then what?

Can you get both ESA & JSA or is it one or the other?

I don't need to be judged but I'd be very grateful for some information, please.

If you quit you don't get JSA for a long,long time.

It depends the reason for resigning. is it because of ill health? It also depends upon the ages of your children. If the youngest child is under 5 then you can get income support, if over 5 then it is JSA.

Sorry just saw that it is because of ill health. To claim JSA you need to be able to look for work and be fit to work. So if you are unfit to work , you claim ESA. You still get child tax credits, obviously not wtc as you wouldn't be working.

^ Not true! If you choose to leave a job voluntarily then it can affect your JSA entitlement for up to 26 weeks. However it's not the case that this automatically happens. Benefit goes into payment while they look at 'good cause'. If you choose to leave you give your reasons at the initial interview, in writing (or you can take it away and send it back within 7 days) So it depends on your reasons for leaving and if you had good cause.

If you are dismissed then the jobcentre contact your employer initially and ask for the reason. You are then given the chance to give your reason if needed.

JSA & ESA are two different benefits. JSA if you're fit for work (any type of work not necessarily the field you have just left) ESA if your GP supports you with a med cert.

If you are in rented accommodation you will be able to claim housing benefit and council tax benefit too.

How many hours is your current job? Do you have a partner and finally..... How long have you been there?

Hope that helps.

Thanks. DS is 8.

I may be fit to work in something but I currently go in cycles where I can do 4ish weeks of works then need 2-3 weeks off to recover. It's not sustainable. I have a lot of time off sick & have no quality of life. I need time to get properly better.

I've been in my current job for 4 years. No partner, some family & a mortgage to pay.

You would be better off on ESA then as you will be expected to attend plenty of information sessions/adviser appointments if you're on JSA. You can get help with the Interest on your mortgage but that side of things isn't really my area and I can't remember at what point you can claim it or if you can claim it on contribution based ESA.
It may be worth checking the insurance on your mortgage. You'll still get council tax benefit though.

Can your employer offer you more suitable duties? You could speak to your HR dept as they have a duty of care towards you.

Hope things look up for you soon.

with JSA you have 26 weeks 6months to look only for work in your area at the same salary as before after that it is any job upto 40 hours a week and 90 minutes commute

if you have worked for more than 2 years you will get contributions based JSA for 6 months regardless of income savings etc after that it is means tested

if you have a child under 5 you can get IS if a child between 5-12 you only need to look for work in school hours if a single parent

if you can't work you can apply for ESA but this will be assessed at a medical at some point

Thank you. It's all so confusing. I've looked on entitledto but I get a different answer each time, varying from £147 per week to £400