Claiming Benefits

[johnny.5]

If you work all your life, save money towards your retirement and then get made redundant are you entitled to unemployment benefit or job seekers allowance ?
or do you have to use you retirement / redundancy money until it runs out before you get any help ?

[Islay]

It will take into account your redundancy and savings before allowing any benefits - as it should.

[johnny.5]

if you were to put it all into a pension plan could you then be entitled?

[Flonska]

You can apply but what benefits you can claim will be determined when your financial circumstances have been assessed.

The following link may help answer some of your questions:-

https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/benefits-and-tax-credits-when-youve-lost-your-job

[Buenchico]

JSA (and the equivalent element of Universal Credit) comes in two forms. If you become unemployed with a recent full record of National Insurance contributions you're eligible for Contribution-Based JSA, which is NOT means-tested.

Contribution-Based JSA is only payable for a maximum of 6 months though. Anyone who isn't eligible for Contribution-Based JSA (either because the 6-month period has expired or simply because they've not got a recent full record of National Insurance contributions) can apply for Income-Based JSA, which IS means-tested (with, for example, the income of the claimant's partner being taken into account). Savings, including things like redundancy money, are also taken into account.

For people living with a partner in full-time employment that typically means that they'll get full JSA for up to 6 months but, if they remain unemployed, absolutely nothing thereafter.

See here:
https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/what-type-you-get
although this is possibly a better summary:
https://www.totaljobs.com/careers-advice/money-and-legal/how-to-claim-jobseekers-allowance

[fiction-factory]

As Buenchico says contribution based JSA is not means tested in that savings are not taken into account, however it is only a small amount- about £150 a fortnight for up to 6 months and can be reduced or become zero if you are in receipt of any pension income. And JSA does not entitle you to free prescriptions or NHS treatment