Not Signing On....

[merton69]

Hello all.

Okay this is the could be situation. What do you do if you become unemployed but don't want to sign on?

What happens?

[boxtops]

You don't have any money, no benefits you might get if you signed on. No help in finding a job. No National Insurance contributions paid against your future state pension.

[merton69]

thanks...so where do you go if you just want your 'stamp' paid/registered?

[Hopkirk]

I was made redundant in the 80's but as I had been working abroad for a few years before tha, I hadn't paid enough NI to qualify for unemployment benefit.

I still had to sign on to get my NI stamps paid.

(Wasn't unemployed for long though)

[boxtops]

You have to sign on, to get the NI credit.

[factor-fiction]

It's not uncommon. i know quite a few people who are made redundant in their early/mid fifties but don't want sign on so they live off savings/ redundancy money and maybe later start to draw some of their work pension. Anyone doing this should check whether they are entitled to a partial tax refund.

[ubasses]

Have a look at HMRCgov.uk. You can just pay Voluntary NI.

[DaisyNonna]

Help finding a job? You jest.
Get treated like a pariah and patronised.
No wonder some people do not want to sign on.

[gem_mother]

I was made redundant last year. As I have some income from a pension I was not entitled to any benefits. I am one year short of N.I. contributions so I went to the Job Centre to sign on and get my National Insurance paid. They wanted me to sign a form promising that I would spend 35 hours a week actively looking for a job and they set quite a high quota per week for job applications. I would have had to attend regularly with proof.

[merton69]

I left the job centre because (amongst other inept responses) as they were not interested in getting employment in the field I have years experience and knowledge in.

They told me I had to chose from a list from doughnut maker to security maker, shop assistant. The list was 10 and when I asked what the others were, she couldn't tell me because she didn't have the list and couldn't remember what the list contained!

And she was a Supervisor!!!!

And was also informed that my job wasn't advertised in job centres and does have a 'code' for their computer system!

Safe to say I went livid on her and walked out. She tried to make me feel very small and unimportant. I am not being treated as a number just to be moved from one list to another just to keep their records/figures happy.

I will contact HMRgov to find out about voluntary payment.

Thanks for all your help.

[boxtops]

Good luck, merton - let us know how you get on

[DrFilth]

merton69 > She tried to make me feel very small and unimportant. I am not being treated as a number just to be moved from one list to another just to keep their records/figures happy. <

most of them do this

i came on this planet with nothing and thanks to the tories i still have it

[factor-fiction]

I found the same, doc- but it was in 2009 and it was Labour in power. I felt though that those who were trying to find work were being made to jump through hoops while there seemed to be others who didn't seem to have to go through this.
I was watching all the anti-fracking protestors who have been on the news camping outside Barton Moss and wondered whether they were all affluent retired people, well heeled individuals or benefit seekers who weren't expected to apply for several jobs a day. i also wondered whether Abu Hamza had to jump through the hoops.
I've done it before (JSA CB) but can't face doing it again.

[soapnumpty]

My step-father has just lost his job and he is in his 50s. He went to the job centre last week to sign up for job seekers allowance. He's a respectable man and was a bit embarrassed about it all, but he said they were very nice and he wasn't made to feel awkward at all. he just has to keep a list of what he has been doing to find a job, and go back every 2 weeks. Why not give it another go?