scruff I am so sorry to hear about your husband and him losing his job. The same thing has happened to my husband, well three times in all. He is now 63 and works doing little jobs wherever he can. Now I know there is a ten year age gap but this was the last redundency he went through. What he did when he was also in his 50's was to go to the job center,join there weekly meetings and took all there advise. Plus he put on his suit and went around to different companies asking if they had any vacancies. He found that was the best way to do it. Not phone or sendemail or letter. But go in person. It did make him short tempered and I felt on tender hooks all the time.I really do feel for him and you. But it did pay and he got a job offered to him that wasnt even advertised. With the worry of your parents as well it isnt easy. Tell him it isnt the end of the world, although I expect he feels like he has been rejected from the job front. And worthless. But he isnt and with you both looking forward together things will turn out ok. Get him to claim for everything he can , as they are not allowed to tell you what you can claim for. And if you arent working he can claim for you. Let us know how things go. Best wishes to you both. Brenda xx