Voluntary redundancy on mat leave

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On mat leave just now (supposed to be until October) Company are getting rid of 2000 jobs and it seems like over time the rest of us will be going too, 12 years full time so IMO makes sense to apply for redundancy and get 2 weeks pay x 12 years as opposed to returning part time and then getting any future redundancy on a part time wage (hope this makes sense).

Obviously I will have quite a large package but this will go to paying debt/badly needing a new car. I’m unsure if this is cheeky, but does anyone know if any form of benefit can be claimed until I’m ready to find another job? My little one is only 12 weeks at the moment so I’m definitely not looking to find a new job right away. Any help appreciated

My daughter did this successfully, she got all her information from ACAS

If you qualify for statutory maternity pay, your employer has to pay you your remaining amount if they make you redundant. If you get occupational maternity pay, there is no legal right to the remainder, but you can try negotiating on this.

I took voluntary redundancy at the end of my maternity, Got my pay out and then went on the 'new job seekers' I started mine a few months after maternity/redundancy ended and said I wasn't ready to look earlier. Not sure if you can apply earlier.

@Nomorecoco thanks! This is reassuring

Definitely worth asking if they will defer any redundancy until your paid mat leave finishes, some companies will.

If it's inevitable, go for the payout. The will also need to pay any remaining SMP too.

It really will depend on how much you then have in capital.. If you and your partner then have 16k or more, you won't be eligible for universal credit. Likewise if your partner earns over the threshold you wouldn't be eligible.

You could claim new style jsa. But then you'd be committing to job seeking etc.

Just be cautious with dates I deferred 3 months of my contribution based jsa, this then took me onto the following tax year that referenced the tax year where I had taken 3 months unpaid mat leave
This meant I no longer qualified as I didn't have the continuous NI contributions required although I had paid on 25k