Can I get Income Support if I take voluntary unemployment?

Question

I am a mother of 3 children aged 14, 12 and 10. I am divorced but living with my partner who is a full time student and on a bursary of £500 pcm. I have to work upto 6.30pm and my children are missing out on after school clubs and activities to further their education. I am thinking of taking up voluntary unemployment until I find a job with hours while my kids were at school but be home with them when school finishes. My question is whether I can get Income Support until such time I find suitable work? Thanks.

Answer 1

doubt it.....

you can't just quit and stay home

find another job first then quit

Answer 2

You would first have to leave your present job and have good reason or "just causes" for doing so. Being fired or quiting in themselfves would not make you eligible for unemployment, nor looking for  "Better hours" either.

To get unemployment benefits you must prove that your reason for quitting was for "good cause." "Good cause" means that you must have a very good reason to quit, a reason that is serious enough to make a reasonable person in the same situation leave the job. The reason for leaving also must be "attributable to your employer," meaning that you must have quit as a result of something done by your employer.

Some reasons for quitting that have been considered serious enough to amount to "good cause" include:

*Sexual harassment on the job;

*Change in working conditions made the job unbearable;

*Abusive behavior on the job by coworkers or supervisors;

*Your boss breaks a law which affects you (for example: not paying you minimum wage);

*A big cut in your hours, benefits, or pay rates;

*Your boss changes work shifts, causing child care or transportation problems.

Some reasons for quitting that have NOT been considered serious enough to amount to "good cause" include:

*Can't find day care (unless it's your boss's fault);

*Don't have transportation to work;

*Stress caused by the job, unless the employer made big changes to your work conditions;

*You didn't get a raise or promotion that was promised to you;

*You are not getting along with a co-worker;

*A small decrease in your hours, benefits, or pay rate.

Before quitting, you must make reasonable attempts to resolve the problem with your employer. It is best to keep records of this by sending a letter to your boss laying out the problem and asking that he or she find a solution. Your letter should be as specific as possible. It should explain the problem clearly and in detail and be dated.

Sometimes the "good cause" for leaving does not need to be attributed to the employer. They include:

*Leaving for your own health problem (must show a doctor's note before you leave);

*Leaving to care for a sick spouse, child or parent (must show a doctor's note before you leave);

*Quitting to avoid bumping another employee under a union contract.