G
Grace'sDad
I got made redundant Sept last year. I'd never claimed so much as a bean in my life but I'd paid a hefty tax for years.
Getting the push was what I needed to make me decide to go self employed but as I didn't know if it would work out I thought I'd better go to the Job Centre and have a "chat".
2 hours on the phone to someone who clearly didn't want to live and I had arranged an interview.
To be fair, the guy I spoke with at the Center seemed really helpful, but to cut it short: I explained that I didn't want another job in field sales but I wanted to go self employed tiling. He put me on JSA and told me (with a nudge and a wink) that this would be ok as long as I call a number twice a week and call in every fortnight to say that I was looking for another field sales job. (we both agreed that at £30k basic which is what I was on, they weren't going to find me one) He said that although it was only £76 a week or so, it would help while I get established and of course I could then claim for help with council tax, tax credits etc.
Off I went - a happy bunny. But by the time I got home, it was bothering my conscience. I felt it had to be fraudulent to claim that I was looking for work when in fact I wasn't. I called the manager at the Job Center and explained the situation to her. She seemed stunned at my honesty but thanked me and said she would cancel my JSA claim.
I have a wife and 2 small children and although things have worked out for me, we absolutely SCRAPED by for the 1st 6 months without any help at all. Thanks to having a company car in 2007 I also had naff-all tax allowance but that's another story.
Basically, I just found out tonight about "Test Trading" for people claiming JSA. It allows you to claim everything you are entitled to for 6 months while you bank (don't spend) everything and anything you can earn in those 6 months.
If I had known about this, it would REALLY have helped us out. Instead I used our savings and actually ended up in a bit of debt in my first 6 months.
What do you think? Is it worth complaining? I'm a damn good complainer and I really feel like doing. I wasn't given correct advice and it has cost my family dearly - well in excess of £2000 in benefits I believe we were eligible for.
Not happy tonight:-(
Getting the push was what I needed to make me decide to go self employed but as I didn't know if it would work out I thought I'd better go to the Job Centre and have a "chat".
2 hours on the phone to someone who clearly didn't want to live and I had arranged an interview.
To be fair, the guy I spoke with at the Center seemed really helpful, but to cut it short: I explained that I didn't want another job in field sales but I wanted to go self employed tiling. He put me on JSA and told me (with a nudge and a wink) that this would be ok as long as I call a number twice a week and call in every fortnight to say that I was looking for another field sales job. (we both agreed that at £30k basic which is what I was on, they weren't going to find me one) He said that although it was only £76 a week or so, it would help while I get established and of course I could then claim for help with council tax, tax credits etc.
Off I went - a happy bunny. But by the time I got home, it was bothering my conscience. I felt it had to be fraudulent to claim that I was looking for work when in fact I wasn't. I called the manager at the Job Center and explained the situation to her. She seemed stunned at my honesty but thanked me and said she would cancel my JSA claim.
I have a wife and 2 small children and although things have worked out for me, we absolutely SCRAPED by for the 1st 6 months without any help at all. Thanks to having a company car in 2007 I also had naff-all tax allowance but that's another story.
Basically, I just found out tonight about "Test Trading" for people claiming JSA. It allows you to claim everything you are entitled to for 6 months while you bank (don't spend) everything and anything you can earn in those 6 months.
If I had known about this, it would REALLY have helped us out. Instead I used our savings and actually ended up in a bit of debt in my first 6 months.
What do you think? Is it worth complaining? I'm a damn good complainer and I really feel like doing. I wasn't given correct advice and it has cost my family dearly - well in excess of £2000 in benefits I believe we were eligible for.
Not happy tonight:-(