what to expect?

[snowy101]

We have just had news today that we are probably going to lose our jobs.

 

What can i expect when i sign on, any do`s & don`ts . I don`t want, nor can i afford sanctions , so i would like a guide through the process please.

[antone]

I'm sorry to hear of your troubles.

 

You refer to "we" - do you mean that you and a partner are both likely to be laid off? Or are you a single person? Another question that will help folks to advise is whether you were earning enough to pay NI contributions between April 2011 and April 2013. Finally, and you don't have to answer this one but knowing will help us give better advice, is the situation redundancy rather than dismissal for misconduct or such like?

[snowy101]

Hi Antone,

 

when i said " we", i meant the work force. Please ignore that part, i will be making a claim for myself only. Work situation is redundancy. NI contributions are all up to date. I am hoping not to make a claim but with the job market the way it is i will decide if i make a claim or live of my savings [ not enough to affect a claim] for the time being as i really cant face signing on. I signed on a few years back after redundancy & hated it, i believe it is much worse now so that is why i am asking for advice. Many thanks

[antone]

OK, so with a complete NI record for the relevant years, you might well be entitled to contribution based JSA, which you can receive for up to 26 weeks. The reason you left your job should not cause any issues.

 

So, I guess what you're asking, really, is not so much for technical advice about how or what to claim, but more to have people help by explaining what it's like. Is that correct?

 

If so, I personally don't have recent experience, though I did sign on for a while, ending my claim about a year ago. So could I ask other folks here who claim JSA or have done so recently to post about their experiences and offer any general pointers?

[fightingback99]

Seems a silly point, but suggest you think carefully before telling them you have a car if applicable. My brother got paid off last year, aged 59 had worked his entire life, and was only eligible to claim just JSA CB nothing else due to his wife's income. Advisor mandated him to apply for a NMW job he was suitable for with a 3 hour total drive there and back according to google maps. After petrol , car wear and tear costs he'd have been worse off at the end of each month than just being paid JSA. Fortunately he found other work before he had to return to sign back on.

 

You'll be asked to agree and sign a job seekers agreement, things like hours you're available etc, how many jobs you need to apply for etc. also the time to ask for any reasonsalbe adjustments you might require on hours and type of work if you have any child care needs , or health conditions which limit the type of work you can reasoanbly do. , Read it carefully and make sure you are ok with what they put in it before signing it. Becsue it's due to non conformance with job seekrs agreemnt that sanctions arise from.

 

With regard to the Universal Job Match system they now want everyone to use , most people advise don't agree to tick the box which gives their staff access to your activites on that website. And don't be late, not even by a couple of minutes for any of your future appointments.

 

Hope you find other work soon.

[snowy101]

Thanks for the advice , can i make the claim over the phone or is it a form filling exercise. I would rather the phone as the forms will delay any claim & can be a nightmare to understand.

[jasta11]

Unless they've changed procedure, you can make your claim over the phone - a clerk will talk you through the form. I did this some years ago and it was actually fairly straightforward. However, they will ask you to attend the office in person at some point to sign forms, which obviously can't be done over the phone.

 

I'd suggest you read the various threads in this forum to get some idea of what to expect at the DWP. Provided you take care and know the guidance, it need not be too bad - though I would always suggest avoiding any contact with the DWP where possible, but then that would require you to live off your own savings; not an easy decision to make as you'll have worked long and hard to get those savings and naturally wish to keep them. Claiming benefits now is nothing like it was 30 years ago (ah, what simple days!). The system gets more complicated and annoying as it gets older.

 

Regarding savings, up to £6,000 is ignored by the DWP, up to £12,000 will result in some benefit reduction and over that amount will disqualify you from benefits. Please check up on these figures - they were correct when I became unemployed but may have changed. (If you're over the savings limit you can do what I did and withdraw sufficent to bring you under the limit ) They will ask you to state your amount of savings, though I have no idea how far they go to actually check it.

 

I'm sure others will add their advice, best wishes.

[Mr.P]

Seems a silly point, but suggest you think carefully before telling them you have a car if applicable.

 

I would agree with this completely. Would also add: Look carefully at your local bus timetables and add a good two hours to the service start/finish times - This then becomes your "hours available". e.g. First bus round here starts at 06:45 Mon-Sat (09:00 on Sun), and last bus back is at 23:15 (18:00 on Sun). Hours available are 09:00-20:00 Mon-Sat, no Sundays.

 

"Hours available" for work do not include travel time when the JCP mandate you to apply for a job 90 minutes away.

 

You can also apply for JSA online which will save you a phone call - An advisor may try to call you back or you will get a "we tried to phone you" letter - This will be to verify a few minor details and book you an appointment at the local Job Centre where you will need to show a few documents (bank balances, passport, proof of address, etc).

 

One last point: I require public servants and their subcontractors to address me as Sir - It reinforces the point that you are the client and that they are there to provide a service.

[snowy101]

Update.

 

As suspected i/we are being made redundant, did the claim online & have a JC interview on Monday. Anything i should be armed with regarding UJM?

 

I have manged to get 3 interviews lined up for next week so hopefully this claim won`t be needed, I wont be telling them about a car because i had a company car with my job , so i can rightfully tell them i now don`t have a vehicle. I am not mentioning my wife's car ,as that is none of there business.

[Madamfluff]

MR P you have given sterling advice on here but I really must take you to task on your advise to bring a passport as part of ID to bring to a JSA meeting

 

First of all looking at the OPs post it is clear he has a car so would have a driving license however there is NO legal requirement to produce photo ID in order to get JSA - A British citizen who does not drive or go abroad does not legally require passport or DL and when there is no legal requirement to actually have photo ID there can be no legal requirement to show it, speaking as someone who has never held photo ID ( and never intends to get any) I have in the space of the last 5 years claimed JSA been employed by two different companies, bought and sold property with the help of a solicitor and estate agent, opened a new bank account and registered at a new GP all situtions where at first I was told I MUST have photo ID.

 

 

A lot of people read these forums to get advice not just the person who starts the thread and there could be people reading your post and panicking thinking they wont get JSA if they dont have a passport

 

I showed a copy of my Birth and wedding certificate plus my P45 and a credit card statement when I signed on and that was fine

[snowy101]

I don`t need to officially sign on as:-D fortunately, i have just been offered & accepted a new position after my interview yesterday. A better job in salary & location. Thanks to everyone who gave advice & good luck to all those looking for a job .

[antone]

I don`t need to officially sign on as:-D fortunately, i have just been offered & accepted a new position after my interview yesterday. A better job in salary & location. Thanks to everyone who gave advice & good luck to all those looking for a job .

 

Congratulations!

[jasta11]

I don`t need to officially sign on as:-D fortunately, i have just been offered & accepted a new position after my interview yesterday. A better job in salary & location. Thanks to everyone who gave advice & good luck to all those looking for a job .

 

*Cue music from 'The Great Escape'*

 

Glad to see things have turned out for the better. Best wishes in your new job from us all.