Signing on...

So I got made redundant last week (voluntarily) and got enough wedge to keep
me going for a while. And I have an offer of a new job starting in
September.

So do I need to sign on? For NI puposes or summat?

And if so, how does one go about signing without pissing off the chavs
and/or the ones who genuinely want a job but can't get one and/or the staff
who work there for cock all money to get harassed and shit on by their
bosses and the chavs?

Its been a while and I don't want to get my signing-on etiquette all fucked
up....

TIA

Dave

PS. If/when I take up the job offer in September what do I do then as it'll
be on a self-employed basis - do I sign on every time I don't get a
contract? Even tho' I'll only need 20 week's work to earn me a shed load
more than I did for the council in a whole year?

 

Yes. Do it.

You have to be seen to be actively looking for employment or they stop
your NI contributions.

However, I'm sure you'd find it easy to ****-up every job application
they make you fill in ;-)

Unfortunately, they do seem to be quite sharp on this one.

You _may_ be able to get round this if you pay the NI contributions
yourself. But I'm not sure what the rules are on this one.

 

Depends how much wedge you've got. Any more than £8,000 and it starts to
affect how much casheroonie they'll dosh out.

I don't know but I doubt it. I lasted 6 months before my money ran out.

Go to the job centre and see them. Better still, get an appointment,
then you won't be waiting with the chavs as long. They have
"characters" that go in there and are well known. ICBW as I don't know
you but the Job Centre staff are experienced enough to know when you're
on the level.

That will go in your favour. Trust me.

Sign off.

 

You get some time (12 weeks?) before they bug you, and you can convince them
that you're doing it yourself "from the guardian". If you're on the level
and not being a cock (not that I'm suggesting _you_ would be, but most
people in job centres seem to be) they'll like you, and be nice.

it'll be fine.

jim

 

WavyDavy wrote in

There are 2 types of benefit: income based and NI contributions based.

If you took voluntary redundancy then you will not qualify for Job Seekers
Allowance based on your previous NI contributions for a period (it was 13
weeks in 2002 when I was made redundant).

You can claim for imcome based JSA immediately. However, as someone else
said, if you have £8k in the bank you will not get any.

However, register your claim now to get the clock ticking. Then, if
something happens with the new job you will get your entitlement promptly
and you will get NI credits for the period.

For the first 12 weeks you can be very specific with the criteria for any
job they offer i.e. you can refuse to go for an interview for any imaginary
reason. Therefore, in your case, apart from the inconvenience of signing on
once a fortnight you will not have any hassle. If you go beyond the 12
weeks then you *have* to go to any interview they arrange.

 

£3000, actually - benefit reduces by £1 for every £250 (or part
thereof).
£8000 = no benefit

Phone and request a claim pack - they'll book an appointment at the
same time.


Guess who I work for.......

 

Benefit's only £20? Jesus.

Clear any outstanding credit card balances, overdrafts etc if you have them.
This is the first thing to do with great lumps of wedge in any
circumstances, and who knows, it may reduce the cash-in-hand figure to a
point where you may be eligible for the risible pittance from The State.

 

Sliding scale, then drop off...

Yup, always do that.

Daft purchases may be treated as deprivation of capital, though -
leading to money being cut....or stopped.

 

"I bought the R1 to look for work."

 

I've got them to buy my tyres for my bike, and a chain and sprocket
set... Not for the Bandit though.

 

Given the majority of folk processing claims wouldnt know an R1 from a
John Deere combine harvester, you'd be pretty safe. Anyway - just
describe it as a motorcycle, if the situation presents itself.

 

Wouldn't surprise me if they introduced it as a new project..

 

the cont known as Klaatu says...

*WHOOSH*

 

Nothing. If you tell them that is.
http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/cms.asp?Page=/Home/Customers/WorkingAgeBenefits/497#howmuch

 

Extract: Savings over £8,000 usually mean you cannot get income-based JSA. If
you or your partner are aged 60 or over, savings over £12,000 usually mean you
cannot get income-based JSA. If you live in a residential care home or nursing
home, savings over £16,000 usually mean you cannot get income-based JSA.

Savings over £3,000 usually affect how much income-based JSA you can get. If you
or your partner are aged 60 or over, savings over £6,000 usually affect how much
income-based JSA you can get. If you live in a residential care home or nursing
home, savings over £10,000 usually affect how much income-based JSA you can get.

 

Told to sell your house and clear your debts. Trust me on this.

 

Heh, I see it now.

 

I think the funny one is with housing benefit. If you have a mortgage
you can't claim it. You have to sell your house, then rent something,
then claim hb which will pay your rent.

Now your rent could be the same amount as your mortgage was...

 

Oh /no/ it isn't.

Unfortunately.

 

Wot 'e said. Bloody hard come, easy go.