Signing on

This was was sent in by Alan who was recently made redundant.  He shares his experiences of signing on.  

'SIGNING ON:  WHAT YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW'

 Some brief pointers for people who through circumstance need to look into claiming benefits either as a single parent, working or not, recuperating after a long or serious illness or like me having been made redundant. 

So why should you sign on?

Well for those for whom money might not be the primary concern (some redundancy packages or Compromise Agreements can be generous), your National Insurance contributions should be. The NI contributions count towards your state pension and without the minimum requirements having been paid up it could seriously reduce your state pension entitlements.  The money could be a major issue. Even if it is not you would be foolish to miss out on your entitlements.  After all you’ve been paying the taxes for years so why not? 

Should you be fortunate enough to have insurance policies that cover your circumstances  (redundancy mortgage protection or credit card payment protection for example) then the insurance companies will insist that you sign on and get your local JobCentre to complete and stamp a section of their claims forms.

How much are you entitled to?

Your entitlements vary depending on your circumstances and the amount of any current income (your partner’s income) and your savings but even the smallest amount (circa £60/week) can help ease the financial burden.  

Everyone’s circumstances will be different, but simplified you get more benefit  if you have kids, more if your partner doesn’t work or works less than 24 hours a week and more if your private savings are less than £16,000.00

 But pretty much everyone who is currently not working will be entitled to something ( unless you have insufficient NI contributions and even then there are circumstances that will not preclude a successful claim).
 

How to get started

The best advice if you are thinking about signing on is to call / fill in the forms and find out what your entitlements are.  You don’t get a black mark for asking and you’ll get nothing if you don’t ask. 

The first step is to call the UK wide JobCentre Plus number: 0800 055 6688 regardless of where you live in the UK. 

This initial phone call should be made as soon as possible (claims are registered from the date of the initial call and only a very few specific circumstances will allow you to back date a claim).  The first call will take the form of an interview and will last 30 – 40 minutes.  You may be best to be at home but if you can’t be then you can ask if they will take your mobile number and they will call you straight back.  (Alternatively you can apply on line at the website on www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk .  This website will also provide you with much more information on the full range of benefits and services offered)
 

 You will be asked about your circumstances and details for your situation.  Details about you; your partner and dependants ( full names, dates of birth, address ) including National Insurance number(s).  Details of your bank accounts and savings.  They prefer to make payments directly into your account.  Details of your mortgage, or rent and details of your former employer.   Having confirmed lots of details over the phone you will be given a time and date for an initial Interview in a job centre local to you.  The more you can answer initially the less time the actual face to face interview will take.

What happens next?
You will be expected to attend an interview.  The initial interview will be in two parts and you will see two different people.  Firstly all the details are checked again and you will have to provide the information you could not offer over the phone.  You should also have all the documents requested during the phone call (probably, your bank account details, proofs of address and identity, your redundancy letter and or P45 etc..). 

During this first discussion it may be explained which level of benefit you are likely to be placed on and informed that the formal assessment will be carried elsewhere and that formal recognition of the Claim and any Entitlements will follow in writing in about a week or so.

The second part of the interview is a session on finding out your job preferences, skills and abilities.  A search through the data base to fill out a profile of the sort of work you will be looking for.  There is even a category for you to confirm the minimum salary you would be looking for!

You will be handed an A5 size booklet with your signing on details (where and when etc..) and a booklet to fill out activities as proof of your attempts to gain work, such as interviews, job searches, networking meetings and the like (you will need this A5 booklet when you go to get your leisure access card).  These two parts of the interview should not take more than 30-40 minutes but job centres are busy places and you may have to wait to be seen.

Thereafter you will need to go back every two weeks to ‘sign on’.  Arrive promptly as the system accommodates a large volume of appointments and if you miss your spot you can be kept waiting a while for a gap or even sent away to come back the following day.  Once you are called there will be a quick check through your log and then you sign and that’s you, it should only take a few minutes.
 

What other benefits are available one I have signed on?

In Edinburgh (and I believe in other areas throughout the UK ) you become entitled to a heavily discounted Leisure Access Card which in turn affords big discounts off Council run leisure activities like swimming, gyms, leisure centres and golf.  The costs vary depending on which form of benefit your on.  As an example my card cost £3.50 for 3 months and with it swimming is £2 a go and golf £6.50 a round ( see www.edinburghleisure.co.uk or call 0131 650 1001 ).