Claiming benefits between contracts

[xoggoth]

Having done it, agree with Brown issue apart from the near bankruptcy bit. They do not enquire into personal finances for the basic jobseekers.

[Cyberman]

Hi

If you have just finished a contract and have your own company
I believe you are not entitled to claim any benefits (eg unemployment)
whilst looking for another contract. Can anyone verify if this is correct?


Thanks
Paul

Get your accountant to issue a P45 and then you can claim as unemployed, but do not mention anything about being a company director in your claim.

[Sockpuppet]

Get your accountant to issue a P45 and then you can claim as unemployed, but do not mention anything about being a company director in your claim.

Really. If you are a contractor and thinking along these lines you really need a reality check.

If the best plan B you can come up with is being dole scum you need to try a little harder.

[Cyberman]

Really. If you are a contractor and thinking along these lines you really need a reality check.

If the best plan B you can come up with is being dole scum you need to try a little harder.

I have never claimed dole but I am fairly sure this works as I read it somewhere else. If you mention anything about being a company director you will be stuffed, although you will qualify for NI credits. That I DO know from experience.
Personally, I think it's only fair if you have paid NI for years that you can claim if out of work for a long period, as long as you are not also drawing from your company.

[AtW]

Personally, I think it's only fair if you have paid NI for years that you can claim if out of work for a long period, as long as you are not also drawing from your company.

Do not assume that "fair" and "right" is also "legal". A criminal conviction for fraud does not exactly help in getting new business. Is it worth doing so for a few quid? I think not.

[Cyberman]

Do not assume that "fair" and "right" is also "legal". A criminal conviction for fraud does not exactly help in getting new business. Is it worth doing so for a few quid? I think not.

If you have no money in your company and you have told the dole office that you are a director, they will not let you claim. I was out of work for over two years and could not claim a penny, but I had paid NI for 25 years, as a permie and a contractor. To me that is obscene, so the next time I will go the P45 route.
I do not think that is illegal, but I do believe that the dole office get very confused if you mention anything about being a director of a company.

[AtW]

I do not think that is illegal

The issue here is what the courts think

[Cyberman]

The issue here is what the courts think

Let me rephrase that. There is no way that this is illegal.

[AtW]

Let me rephrase that. There is no way that this is illegal.

Did you sign declaration with the words to the effect of "I have provided complete and honest information about my current affairs" when applying for benefits?

[Cyberman]

Did you sign declaration with the words to the effect of "I have provided complete and honest information about my current affairs" when applying for benefits?

Yes. Unfortunately I was naive enough to give all details about company, directorship etc. I then had to live off my savings for two years, whereas other people with no savings, who have probably never made any attempt to work or save can claim for year after year and then fake illness and go onto validity benefit.
Thus, we now have over 3 million people claiming long-term validity benefit, many of whom should not be, and I don't see any court cases happening there.