Unemployment On The Horizon

Author
Discussion

Corpulent Tosser

Original Poster:

5,459 posts

245 months

Friday 18th November 2016
quotequote all
I am a contractor and my contract is about to be terminated, there are no other contracts likely to come up and as I am in my 60s and work in the oil industry which has high unemployment at the moment I think I am just going to retire at the start of the new tax year.

I am fairly certain I would not be eligible for any benefits, reduction of council tax etc as I have savings, but are there any reasons I should register as unemployed between my last contract ending and starting drawing from my pension?








dingg

3,989 posts

219 months

Friday 18th November 2016
quotequote all
I'm in the same industry and planning to retire in 2 years time at 58 and drawdown my pension then

as long as you have enough NI credits to enable full state pension , as I see it there's no need to sign on for any reason.

Enjoy your retirement yes

55palfers

5,910 posts

164 months

Friday 18th November 2016
quotequote all
I assume you've worked all your life and paid tax and NI so why not sign on!

Jumping through the hoops of Jobseekers allowance could provide a bit of light entertainment with the Job Centre staff.

The money will pay for a decent meal and you get your NI paid.

Corpulent Tosser

Original Poster:

5,459 posts

245 months

Saturday 19th November 2016
quotequote all
dingg said:
Enjoy your retirement yes
Thank you, and you when your time comes smile


55palfers, I doubt I would get a penny, but my NI contributions are over 40 years so should get the full state pension in a few years time.

condor

8,837 posts

248 months

Saturday 19th November 2016
quotequote all
In that case you would get 6 months NI contributions based Job seekers allowance. Your savings aren't taken into account for that.

Corpulent Tosser

Original Poster:

5,459 posts

245 months

Saturday 19th November 2016
quotequote all
condor said:
In that case you would get 6 months NI contributions based Job seekers allowance. Your savings aren't taken into account for that.
I need to look into that, could be worth claiming, thanks.

condor

8,837 posts

248 months

Saturday 19th November 2016
quotequote all
You could also ask if there are any self-employed start-up grants available for the over 60s.
7 years ago I was made redundant aged 50, and after my 6 months NI contributions based JSA had passed, was told that help was available to set up as a self employed dog walker. Which is what I did - I was given a few weeks tuition/guidance, a grant of £1000 and sent on my way smile

Corpulent Tosser

Original Poster:

5,459 posts

245 months

Saturday 19th November 2016
quotequote all
condor said:
You could also ask if there are any self-employed start-up grants available for the over 60s.
7 years ago I was made redundant aged 50, and after my 6 months NI contributions based JSA had passed, was told that help was available to set up as a self employed dog walker. Which is what I did - I was given a few weeks tuition/guidance, a grant of £1000 and sent on my way smile
thumbup

Eric Mc

122,032 posts

265 months

Sunday 20th November 2016
quotequote all
It always amuses me how people who consider themselves not to be employees can talk about being "unemployed" smile

Corpulent Tosser

Original Poster:

5,459 posts

245 months

Monday 21st November 2016
quotequote all
How else would you describe not having a job to go to ?

Eric Mc

122,032 posts

265 months

Monday 21st November 2016
quotequote all
No customers.

No clients.

Lack of business.


Corpulent Tosser

Original Poster:

5,459 posts

245 months

Monday 21st November 2016
quotequote all
Which ultimates leads to what?

johnwilliams77

8,308 posts

103 months

Monday 21st November 2016
quotequote all
Corpulent Tosser said:
Which ultimates leads to what?
No income to your company.

Eric Mc

122,032 posts

265 months

Monday 21st November 2016
quotequote all
That's the mindset you MUST have if you want to be a successful business person.

Everything you have done for the period you have been subcontracting SHOULD have been in the nature of running a business - not being an employee in a job. If the latter, you were fraudulently claiming you were NOT an employee - and HMRC would be very keen to know why you weren't paying the taxes and NI amounts due on employee income.

All that's happened is that you have lost a customer. Being a "business", you need to find a new customer - or possibly, more than one.

227bhp

10,203 posts

128 months

Monday 21st November 2016
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
That's the mindset you MUST have if you want to be a successful business person.
He wants to retire.

Eric Mc

122,032 posts

265 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2016
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Nothing wrong with that. People in business cease trading all the time.

Corpulent Tosser

Original Poster:

5,459 posts

245 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2016
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
That's the mindset you MUST have if you want to be a successful business person.

Everything you have done for the period you have been subcontracting SHOULD have been in the nature of running a business - not being an employee in a job. If the latter, you were fraudulently claiming you were NOT an employee - and HMRC would be very keen to know why you weren't paying the taxes and NI amounts due on employee income.

All that's happened is that you have lost a customer. Being a "business", you need to find a new customer - or possibly, more than one.
You are not wrong and as I have run my engineering consultancy business for over 25 years I think I have been successful in retaining and finding new customers, however the state of the industry is such that new contracts are unlikely to be available, I have many contacts and would not discount defering my retirement, but it seems unlikely.

As for HMRC they did take an interest in my business some years ago, I was investigated and found to comply fully with IR35 requirements.

Are you a member of staff with a greivance against contractors by any chance ?


miniman

24,956 posts

262 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2016
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He's an exceptionally insightful and helpful financial services professional, with an amusing penchant for weapons grade pedantry hehe

randlemarcus

13,524 posts

231 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2016
quotequote all
miniman said:
He's an exceptionally insightful and helpful financial services professional, with an amusing penchant for weapons grade pedantry hehe
Eric, transfer this to your profile forthwith biggrin

anonymous-user

54 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2016
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Whatever you do CT, please don't happen to mention you were an 'expat' during your career at any stage. Eric will have a stroke...