Are the rules around Job Seekers benefit getting tougher?

LegacyUser

hi all,

Basic story is I'm thinking about quitting my job at the end of the year. I've worked here for 15 years, and have just had enough. Will not be made redundant, so will just be handing in my notice & saying its for personal reasons. No point in saying it's because I'm so stressed that I'm worried about my mental health, so bottom line is I'll be quitting.
I know that there will be a stop on me claiming job seekers benefit for 9 weeks. My question is will I even be able to claim my stamps after the 9 weeks? Or will they just say that because I left the job, tough luck, you're on your own? In spite of the fact that I have paid stamps for 52 weeks every year for the past 15?

I ask this because recently one of our part time workers left due to a family crisis. After a few months, she asked our employer for a letter saying she had left due to her own reasons, which was provided. She then came back & said that the social welfare had told her that she'd 'have to come up with something better than that' if she wanted to claim JSB.

Anyone know?

mp22

You may be disqualified from getting Jobseeker's Benefit for 9 weeks if you:

• Left work voluntarily and without a reasonable cause

From here http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/unemployed_people/jobseekers_benefit.html

boogaloop

Thanks for that. I am aware I may not get it for 9 weeks - it's after the 9 weeks I'm worried about. Seems like it's not just a straight case of getting through the 9 weeks & then signing on.

mp22

Sign on on your first day unemployed and let the dept decide how long to disqualify the payments for.

phoenix999

You paid your taxes and WILL be 100% entitled to Jobseekers Benefit. Don't worry about it. Just make sure to get your P45. Don't worry about other peoples' tall tales.

eastbono

In view of the fact that you will be leaving your job of your own accord you will more than likely have to produce documentary evidence of your efforts to seek work...e.g. registration with recruitment agencies...emails of job applications etc.

yellowlabrador

If you're seriously suffering from stress, visit your doctor. He might give you some time off and you'll get illness benefit. It'll give you some time to get some rest and maybe look at all your options. In the mean time look for another job, it's easier to find work if you're already in a job. If you do give up work, I don't think they'll leave you starve, but financially you'll take a hit with no proper income and the added worry of finding another job.

LegacyUser

Thanks for all replies. I'm not going to go down the doctor cert/stress/illness benefit route as I feel it might come against me when getting a reference/applying for a new job.

I know it is easier to get a job when you have a job, but right now I am so drained from the current job that I dont have the energy or strength to go looking for another job. So I was hoping to take maybe 3 months off, get myself together and get back in to the workforce. But I'd need to be getting JSB for some of those 3 months.

cheers

LegacyUser

I know that you don't want to to go down the doctor cert/stress/illness benefit route as you feel it might come against you in getting a new job.
A friend of mine was doing the job of 2 people, was working late and had a boss who made her life a misery. She was very unhappy and stressed at the time. She went to her doctor and got a sick note due the stress she was under. Within a few weeks of being off she began to feel and look better. She got another job during her time off and it worked out well for her.
Another friend of mine left a job due to her work load, stress and a really bad boss.
She did not have another job to go to then and every interview she went to was asked why she left ///? She could only get temp work & ended up moving back home.

I would go to the doctor, get a sick note due to stress. Make sure you eat well, take a good multi vitman and get plenty of sleep and after a week you should start to feel better.
The second week you off start to apply for jobs, go to recruitment agencies and keep looking on the internet for work. Hopefully you will get a job then even if a temp position. You can then give in your notice to work. No company want to tell others that your off due to stress but if you leave without notice or a new job they could tell every future person who calls them for a reference that you let them down by doing this.
Also if you finish a temp contract you can go to social welfare and tell them your signing on due to your temp job finishing so they can't dock your welfare for 9 weeks.

I know at the moment you are stressed and can't see a way out except for leaving a job without anything lined up. If you go out with stress you can get a few weeks off to have a rest and to get another job lined up before you leave your present employment which will be a better benefit for you long term. Good Luck and remember that thing will get better for you.