Hello there, need some advice please. After spending 6 months in Perth wa my family and I will be returning to the UK in the next couple of weeks. Yipppeeeeee!! I have been working in Perth on a 457 temporary visa and we are returning to the UK for reasons such as the Ozzie lifestyle does not suit us, missing friends and family etc. My question is, on our return whilst looking for new jobs (Nursing) will we be entitled to any benefits? such as jobseekers etc? Is there a waiting period or anything like that because we gave up our jobs in the UK 7 months previously. Any advice much appreciated as I am worrying how we will cope as we will have spent all our cash on flights and shipping etc to get home. Any advice much appreciated.

Pretty sure that you will get something it has been discussed before on here not too long ago. The 'Swaddling' decision means that returning citizens are entitled to benefits even if you gave up your job......

Know exactly where you are coming from worse career move ever for me
But still will be able to take back lots of new ideas and actually though its been really stressful I feel energized and cant wait to tell my old colleagues in NHS how lucky they actually are.

where abouts in Manchester are you from?

Hi Tillysmum!

We are from Godley, Hyde. Glad to hear that about the benefits! One less thing to worry about until I can get another nursing job. Really regret our move here, not just because my job is awful but you have to pay through the nose for everything. I have been off work for a week with a terrible bug and I have not received any sick pay and it has cost me about £50.00 just to see a doctor!! It does make you appreciate the NHS!!!! Are you from Manchester and heading back home?? We have been trying to sell our car for weeks and it has been a nightmare!! Once we sell the car we can Fly home!!!!!!!!!! Cant wait!

I believe you can get JSA straight away, I don't think they would look at the job you had previously in the UK, but the job you had in Oz which is unrealistic to keep once you're back in the UK, so it's not like you walked out of a job.
That's my reasoning, I'm going back in September and will apply for JSA as soon as possible once I get there.
As long as you are actively seeking work in the UK, I can't see there being a problem.

you should have got some sick pay if you have been employed since feb. have a look at your last wage slip it should say how many sick pay hours you have earned.

yeh back to saddleworth on 16th august. used to be a hv in mossley trained at TGH what about you...........

Why did you have to pay to see a doctor? Could you not have gone to one that bulk bills?

Gosh what a small world it is!! I trained at TGH, been qualified 3 years now. Worked on ward 30, then theatres then stupidly left to go to a crap job in Oz where I am not allowed to do anything or use any of my skills!!! Have also worked on the community in Hattersley which I enjoyed but same as everywhere they have no vacancies at the minute so will have to travel afar for any sort of job!!

Felt so ill I could only stagger to the doctors at the end of the road and beg for any sort of appointment!!!

And in a lot of areas now unless you want to wait a couple of weeks you won't get in on bulk-billing ;(

Have a look here.

I also came across this thread.

It's full of myths stated as fact. From the first couple of posts you can see that experiences of apparently the same set of circumstances are different.

Application of all sorts of things is not standard which is why some people get away with being on the sick for years on end and some cant get a penny when they should have it. Not right or fair, but a fact.

JSA is not cut and dry, unlike child benefit and other stuff how you choose to put yourself out of employment will have an effect on decision making regarding your claim. You may be approved, but I wouldn't rely on getting this money immediately if I was you.

Hi, I am interested in the answers here as I think I will be going back home with our two sons on my own as we cannot sell our home here in Perth, I am from Danebank in Denton my husband was from Staylbridge our home was in Danebank before we left for Perth 10 looooooooooonnnnngggggg years ago!!!! I will be going home with only our savings as my husband will stay on and sell our home (that is the plan at the moment) our two sons need to start college and school in Sept so time is running out for us....we will be staying at my Dads in Danebank and although he is retired and has pots of money (he is VERY careful with his money...my Oh says he's just mean!!! ha ha)I will not have any income until I find a job (qualified secretary etc)I will also have to buy a car...it's not ideal but it's the only way to get home for Sept. my Oh salary will mostly be taken up with mortgage and bills and ofcourse money for him to live (he will take a huge cut in salary to return to Perth to look after our home until it sells) so would I be entiteld to anything myself until I find employment in the U.K....not sure if my Dad will charge me for anything (he has not had a mortgage for years and years) and I am not looking to be a freeloader as I am just not like that...it is a worry but we have exhurst all other avenues....sorry to hijack your thread....good luck to you and have your thought about Stepping Hill, Crumpsull or Manchester Royal for vacancies even as an agency nurse first? I use to work at both Man Royal and Stepping Hill and they always had vacancies for agency nurses...it would do "for now"......
Take care and all the best hope your feeling better?
ps about your car....will you make a lot of money from it? if not can you not take it back to the garage where you bought it from and ask them to buy it from you? or have you advertised in the Quokka and local press? even put a sign in your car window with your mobile,millage and price

don't forget to go and claim back your medicare amount.

The only think you will be unarguably entitled to immediately is child benefit for the two kids.

Non contribution based JSA, the lesser amount which does not require recent NI payments is based on the following

You must be a jobseeker or working for less than 16 hours per week.
Any income you have must be sufficiently low.
Your capital and savings must be less than £16,000.
You must be available for work and actively seeking work.

As soon as hubs joins you a whole new bunch of criteria apply.

Sometimes you will have to battle with jobsworths about entitlement though, that's why I wouldnt recommend relying on this money, tbh, it's a frikkin pittance anyway.