Builder out of work

**davycrocket** · 9th October 2008 20:07

The credit crunch has hit me. I have had no work for 3 months due to potential clients cancelling home extensions because the banks wont lend them the money.Well into overdraft icon

and credit cards and realy worried. Can I sign on for unemployment ? How do I go about it ? Last time was approx 25 yrs ago and I was forced to leave my wife and kids so that she could claim. Any advise welcome.

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**Weird Al Yankovic** · 9th October 2008 23:06

Hi daveycrocket, sorry about your lean times.

I guess you were/are self-employed? If so, are you up to date with your stamp?

In any case, sign on as soon as you can.

Good luck

ps By the way, where do you live? Could help you out with some kind of related work, pm me if you want to.

**bazak1** · 10th October 2008 14:45

Hi davey,
unfortunately its a sign of the times.

Visit your local benefits office, ( you'll find the address in the phone book or on google ).
You have to fill in the necessary forms, and then wait for days while they're processed.

The important thing to remember is that you must phone the job centre on the first day that you become unemployed. They will not begin processing a claim prior to that date even if you know you will be out of work and they tend not to back date a claim if you delay for a couple of days. The initial contacts are usually handled on the phone through a call centre and after an initial call you will normally be given a time frame some day in the future when you will be called for a telephone interview which can last up to an hour and will take most of the details required to process your claim.
The majority of people who sign on whilst out of work will get Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) of which there are two types, contribution icon

based and means tested. The first is available to anyone who has made National Insurance contributions and can be claimed for six months, once the six months is up you move across to means tested JSA where any savings are taken into account and for me meant that I could no longer claim however you can continue to sign on to receive NI credits to protect your state pension.
Once your claim has been processed your next appointment will be at the job centre where you will begin the process of signing on.
Every two weeks you are required to attend the job centre to confirm that you are available to work and that you are actively looking for employment. This appointment is at a regular time each fortnight and in all takes about ten minutes and once you have signed your benefit is credited to your account about three or four working days later

**seftonview** · 10th October 2008 14:51

You haven't mentioned it in your post, so I shall ask:

Have you tired looking for a job before you consider signing on?

**davycrocket** · 10th October 2008 20:03

First, Thank you to all who replied with advise.sincerely appreciated.
I have looked into signing on and had a initial chat with the job centre. The most i could claim would be £60:50, but because I own plant and vehicles, I would have to sell these first. What they dont understand, is that the majority of builders are in the same boat as me so cant afford to buy anything and if the credit crunch improves, I would not have the means to carry on business.
In the past 4 months I have spent £820 with an internet company who put you in touch with Clients wanting building works. Succesfull tenders on 3 decent sized jobs, but now they cant get the finance.
Sorry for going on, I realize there are a lot worse off than myself. Anyway, got an interview tomorrow for a sales job. Kind regards everyone

**davycrocket** · 10th October 2008 20:23

Another point is! As the goverment and everyone else appear to be putting the responsibility for this crisis on the banks, would I have a case against the banking industry for closing my business and depriving me of a living.

**pompeyfaith** · 11th October 2008 21:27

blimey they expect you to sell up thats a bit hearse

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