briteness

the thread title makes me sound like a scrounger but let me explain my circumstances

I am a British citizen who has lived in Switzerland for the last 6 years. I was employed but got laid off in 2012 and been on the equivalent of Swiss unemployment since. Due to extreme difficulty finding a new job and marital problems I have reached the end of my tether here.

From a few other expats I knew that were also struggling here and returned to England I know that finding employment should be easier - not easy, but certainly not as impossible as it is here. I know that realistically I may need to survive a short period before finding work which my savings may not stretch to meeting.

Any ideas where I stand on benefit entitlements? - dont get me wrong I am very keen to be working again but would prefer to know my rights before jumping back. Its no use assuming a safety net will still apply.

I also pretty much burnt all my bridges shortly after leaving so have NO bank account, no place to live... so any advice in those areas would be appreciated too

feel free to ask questions

thanks in advance

lgabriel73

You become eligible for benefits after 3 months in the country as long as you can pass the habitual residence test. The only benefit you will get upon arrival is access to the NHS. You will need to make sure that you have enough savings to at least see you through 3 months.

You need to secure housing ASAP in order to get your bank account opened. Do you have friends or family that you could stay with temporarily? You may have a very difficult time securing rental property without a job or benefits.

cyrian

Have a look here:
Citizens Advice - British and Irish citizens - claiming benefits
You can consult a Citizens Advice Bureau.
Their services are free and you can get advice on banking; housing and benefits.
I suspect that you would only be entitled to Jobseekers Allowance after you are resident for several months and registered at a local job centre.
It is about £60 per week.

briteness

thank you for the replies - I also dug around and from the UK Govt website I saw that its basically 3 months to be eligible for Job Seekers Allowance and some other benefits - I will look into Income Support as that maybe possible to claim regardless

@lgabriel73 - Its possible that I could stay with one of my sisters but I know it could complicate her life and I dont want to be a charity case - she is generous but sometimes not being helpful is better in the long run

I think I will have to bite the bullet and try to get some extra money somehow so I can survive at least 3 months (at present I think I could survive 2 months but its hard to estimate ) Ironically I can only see getting more money through finding work here...and then it maybe a bit pointless moving back in the short term - Switzerland is a nice country - but once your money runs out its pretty damn tough . Another possibility is trying to line up a few job interviews in a short period, travel over and just take the risk that it works out...

lgabriel73

Income support will also be a 3 month wait.

Gozit

Are you close to the borders with France/Germany/Italy? You could commute across and find work there, maybe that would be easier.

formula

And IS isn't for working age adults who should claim Jobseeker's Allowance after the 3 months wait for the HR test. IS is also a 3 month wait but is mainly for a single parent with a child under 5, as these parents aren't required to look for a job. Soon to be under 1 with the welfare reforms.

Editha

You might be better off taking the plunge and coming to the UK asap. If you are unemployed in Switzerland, you are unlikely to be able to save to live for 3 months in the UK.

In the UK you could stay with your sister and throw yourself on charity -- you'd get vouchers for a food bank. Hopefully you'd get a job well within the three months.

spouse of scouse

I understand about you not wanting to put your sister out, but I really think that staying with her for the 3 months is your best shot to get out of situation that's obviously making you unhappy.

3 months, around 13 weeks - it's no time at all in the scheme of things. You'd be out and about most days job hunting, and you could make an arrangement with your sister to 'pay your way' by doing housework, shopping, cooking, babysitting, or any other job that would make her (and the rest of her family if applicable) life easier. If it still bothers you a great deal to be dependent on her for 3 months, give her a signed IOU, to be paid back once you're on your feet again.

Sometimes, family is all we have. I'm sure you'd help your sister out if you could and she needed it - maybe swallow your pride and give her a chance to do the same for you. Best of luck

feelbritish

I agree, return asap and look for work, even if you have to start off working evenings at Tesco! Nothing wrong with that and it will get you out!

briteness

thanks for all of the replies - I think my reluctance to jump back is down to my fear that I simply will not be able to find work within 2 months weighed up against the situation here, I am not homeless I do have enough for food/drink (I am surviving only and thankfully not using what little savings I have - socialising is basically a luxury)

I guess that being unemployed for so long has knocked my confidence in finding any work.

I will contact some agencies and get a feel for the job situation back in England.

I will also speak to my sister and explain the situation and hopefully she could provide some help