Can you sign on if you have a conditional job offer?

[leftyloosy]

Sounds strange, let me explain!

I was a teacher, I resigned at half term as the last date available for teachers to resign. I started applying for jobs outside teaching. Tomorrow (31st) will be my last day of employment with school.

I had an interview and was offered a job on 23rd July. It was conditional on health questionnaire, proof of eligibility to work in UK and references. They requested references by post which went to school during school holidays. I arranged for these to be forwarded to home addresses and managed to speak to one referee, who did it for me. The headteacher has not done his. I know they are in the country, office manager confirms it was sent/given to him. I have (politely) chased the reference with Head and PA, but not had a response.

So as of Tuesday, I am unemployed and I know I won't get any benefits I'm wondering about my NI contribution. Should I sign on for that?

As to what to about job, we are going to be a bit screwed financially, but hopefully we can survive a few weeks.

You can't sign on for six months after resigning because you left voluntarily unfortunately even if you have a job lined up. You could try speaking to someone at your local CAB regarding NI.

Do you have children? If you get Child benefit you get credits anyway. You can also buy NI credits at a later date.

Yes you can sign on and should do so. Whether you are sanctioned for leaving a job voluntarily or not is up to a decision maker.

You can't claim unemployment benefit if you resign from a job.

Why don't you ask someone else to give you a reference if head teacher is unavailable?

Yes you can and should. It's up to a decision maker to decide whether you had good cause and period of any sanction up to 26wks.

Lots of uninformed posters giving advice on things they know nothing about as usual!

You won't get benefits as you resigned however you can still get the NI if you sign on.

Unless you had to leave for health reasons. Then it's upto them.

You won't get benefit if you intentionally make yourself unemployed.

I'm not bothered about the benefit, I'm more concerned about the NI and pension issue.

The Head counts as my current/previous employer. I could try deputy, but may have similar problem. I will contact new job on Tuesday and see if they'd like me to find another referee. It will still be one week though.

I think you can make up any lost NI contributions yourself.

How about trying your HOD or head of subject? The reference can only really confirm that you were employed by the school on the dates you stipulate. Employees are very wary of commenting on performance in references these days. You're not going into another teaching job, so performance is irrelevant anyway.

Subject leader was my other reference. I might try another line manager from pastoral.