could I get JSA if I hand in my notice?

[fivennotfour]

school is planning to start a 4.5 days week after the summer. There will be some places for the after school club on Friday but probably not enough to meet the demand .

my work would not allow a lunch finish on Fridays.

I don't have family and the childminders I rang are full and not overly optimistic about having vacancies after the Summer.

There is still time, I will try to find another job but what if I cannot and if my DC is not one of the few chosen for the after school club? I would be forced to leave work. Could I claim JSA?

just need some idea about what is possible and what not so I can plan ahead as best as possible.

I think you have to show you made yourself voluntarily unemployed for 'good reasons'.

Probably not a good idea if you would depend on that money

Have you formally requested a change in working hours?

today not yet, I will do but I do know if won't work for our business so I am pretty sure the answer will be a 'no'. but I will try nevertheless b

I think you’ve got plenty of time to find a solution. Giving up your job is not one of them.

It's all UC now, IIRC. No more JSA.

A friend who recently left his job due it it being unbearable tells me that because he left voluntarily, he can't get JSA for the first six months of unemployment. He would only get JSA because of NI contributions, otherwise his savings take him above the threshold. He may, of course, be in for a nasty shock if the rules have changed.

Can you look into your employers flexible working policy? Half the parents in my company have flexible working to cover childcare arrangements.

Could you look at:

• Getting into the after school club at school
• Talking to the other parents in the class to.see.if.any.of them could have your child.on Friday afternoons
• Local nurseries rather than childminders, if there are any near by they may do a collectio n and after schools service
• Amending hours at work to part time finish early in friday or compressed by doing longer days Mon-thurs then shorter day on Frida y

Are you solo? Is there another parent to share this change?

Could you advertise for a babysitter? Nanny share?

How do you know the after school club won’t have enough places? Have they told you? Have you applied for a place and been refused?

Could you take parental leave (unpaid) every Friday afternoon? Or Surely there will be lots of parents in the same situation - could you come up with a plan with 3 other parents. Each of you have each other's once a month?

Giving up your job for the sake of a half day a week is drastic.
Time is on your side and I’d look at some of the suggestions made above

Can you change schools instead?

Giving up your job for the sake of a half day a week is drastic.

I am not saying I will do this. but childcare may be an issue and work won't be flexible and I have zero support. I asked merely what would happen if I cannot find childcare and work won't be flexible and I have no other option.

I also have an older DS with complex learning needs at secondary school (with a great holiday club, thank goodness). So I have an awful lot to shoulder and sometimes, these little things are the last straw. But I hope to find another school or job.

But giving up your work for half a day a week IS drastic!

In the situation, you will be best off firstly negotiating with your employer, and then if that doesn't work, looking for another job. Act now and don't aim to be unemployed. Approach your employer positively, meet with your manager and discuss the situation before you submit a flexible working request.

It would be universal credit now I think. (Any new claims or significant changes). They would then have you in for regular appointments to get you back into work and if you weren't seen to be seeking work then they can sanction you etc. So ideally it would be better to not be in that situation.
I think it would be better for you to be fired or made redundant than to quit. If you quit you wouldn't necessarily be eligible.