Am I eligible to claim Job Seeker's Allowance if I quit my job?

[Harry79]

I am really stressed in my job. I have been looking for a new job for some time but have had no luck so far. I really don't feel that I can continue where I am but am worried that I won't be able to claim any Job Seeker's Allowance if I have chosen to leave full time employment. Can you help?

[Anngel123]

Is it affecting your health? There maybe medical grounds to leave the job. You need to speak to your local Jobcentre.

[factor-fiction]

This is worth reading.
http://www.direct.gov...ngYourJob/DG_10026688

[micmak]

Why not visit your GP. If you are so stressed he may sign you on to sick benefit

[ubasses]

If you resign there is usually a 6 week delay before jobseekers allowance is paid.

[starone]

I would never leave a job unless I was certain I could start in a new job right away, especially in these days when jobs are few and far between. However, as micmak says you may be able to get sick benefit and look around while you are at home. Better some money than none at all.

[JonnyBoy12]

I would imagine that you would NOT get JSA if you left the job of your own accord, only if you were dismissed. Do not quote me on this, though.

[Postdog]

Well good luck trying but I'd say no. best bet is go sick long term.

[factor-fiction]

Partly correct, Johnnyboy. Generally you won't get it straight away, as you say, if you leave of your own accord. But it's not always the case that you get it straightaway if you are dismissed- it depends on the reason for dismissal (eg if for gross misconduct then payment may be deferred) and for Contribution Based JSA it depends on whether you have paid sufficient NI contributions

[Eddie-R]

If there are medical grounds then yes. But if you just leave your job then I think there is a six week delay on being able to claim Job Seekers.

[Halifaxmum]

it depends what you tell the job centre...sorry but it's true, if u tell them your job ended, you will get JSA (for 6 months, but then income based), sorry to say, but the dishonest get more than the honest in this situation

[MrMister]

Actually I disagree with all of you regarding JSA, a friend of mine did it, he walked out if his job cos he really had enough and he signed on straight away and didn't have to wait full 6 weeks. I think it could depend on your personal circumstances, type if work & amount of pay. My friend was a temp he walked out on it.

However, if you are stressed, then try to get off as sick like what everyone else is saying.

[THECORBYLOON]

This question comes up now and again and folk keep giving wrong advice. If folk leave a job without what is called just cause (a good enough reason) then Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) can be sanctioned (stopped) for up to twenty-six weeks. If you claim JSA, you will be asked to complete a form giving your reasons for leaving and the steps taken to find other employment BEFORE you left. In the past, the folk making the decisions about the sanctions would have written to ask for more info but now the tendency is to look at the information provided initially. It's important that you give as much information as possible even if it means putting it on several sheets of paper. If your doctor advised you to leave it would be helpful if that is confirmed in writing. You should say how exactly the job affected you, what you did to let your line manager know about this, what other jobs you had applied for and when. All this will be taken into account before a decision is made.

With regards to those who have suggested you lie, you run the risk of the Decision Maker checking with the former employer and if it is discovered to be false then your whole statement may be in doubt and a longer sanction may be imposed as a result.

[bushbaby_de]

My sister quit her job and had to wait 6 months before she could claim JSA.

[THECORBYLOON]

If someone leaves employment voluntarily, there is nothing to prevent them claiming JSA immediately, they do NOT need to wait six months.

[bushbaby_de]

Why did my sister have to wait six months then? left her destitute, the silly girl :(

[THECORBYLOON]

Eddie the maximum period is twenty-six weeks, where do you get the two years from? The "Jobcentre clerk" is not a Decision Maker, they can make the referral but they don't impose the sanction.

[Arksided]

Take a look here:

http://www.urban75.com/Action/Jsa/jsa3.html

[THECORBYLOON]

bushbaby, are you sure the benefit wasn't stopped for six months once the claim was made? Any gap between a job ending voluntarily and the claim for JSA being made is deducted from any sanction period. As the maximum period is twenty-six weeks, if there's a twenty-six week gap, there will be no sanction at all. It may be that someone has misundestood and telt yir sister to wait six months before claiming so that there would be no sanction action taken.