Hi I am being made redundant in October from my job in Basel. Currently we live in France but for family reasons we will almost certainly return to the UK in August (I will continue to work in Basel until the contract terminates and we will officially live in France also until October)

The question is what happens with the unemployment benefit.

I understand if we stay in France I get 75% brutto for 36 months of my final salary but I am guessing that if residing in the UK this will not be the case.

If any one has any current info I would be grateful

Also would i be able to draw down on my pension fund to contribute to buying a house in the UK ?

Finally if moving to a non EU country what eveidence do they ask for for residence ? One option would be to move to Thailand as we have a house their.

Sorry for the fragmented questions I only got the news 2 days ago and am currently a bit confused to say the least.

ash

I'm not sure, but I think you can get 3 months of RAV oayments if you go to UK.

This answer should bump the thread though. I know there are EFers who have gone to UK while unemployed so they might be able to give you a better answer.

I moved my Swiss unemployment to the UK last year.

As you're living in France, you'll be under the French unemployment system, but the end result in the UK should be the same.

You will need to claim unemployment for three months in the country of your residence (EU or Switzerland) in order to transfer it to the UK.

You'll need to fill in transfer paperwork a month or so in advance of moving, and then when you arrive in the UK you need to get to call the job centre ASAP (the day you arrive or the day after, preferably) to get things rolling on their end. It will take them at least a month to get everything squared away and your money to start.

You will receive the amount that you were receiving in France or Switzerland for three months, rather than the paltry £65 a week from the UK, so it is worth doing if circumstances work out for you to do so. After three months, you then go into the UK system and rules.

I'm pretty sure if you move outside of the EU/EEA if you can't claim unemployment benefits once you leave.

I'd also like to know what the rules on pension withdrawals from a Swiss pension to fund a house in the UK, so if anyone knows please speak up!

Somewhat off topic but today's UK unemployment figures have come out.

Wednesday, November 16, 5:44 AM
U.K. Q3 unemployment 8.3%, +0.4% on the quarter, and the highest since 1996.
Number of jobless +129,000 to 2.62M, the highest since 1994.

You haven't got the ones for France and Austria, have you by any chance ? And Malawi. I'd like to know that too if I was moving to the UK to claim unemployment benefit.

some readings for you, some interesting factors, maybe you'll find some time to join the "occupaies"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2...-manufacturing

"Im pretty sure if you move outside of the EU/EEA if you can't claim unemployment benefits once you leave..."

This is from an EU website A & Q - f.i

"I am an EU national looking for a job in another EU country
If you are unemployed, you can move to one or more EU countries to look for work and continue to receive the unemployment benefits you are entitled to in the country where you became unemployed.
 You can only do this if you are:
 an EU national
 wholly unemployed (not partially or intermittently)
 entitled to receive unemployment benefits in the country where you became unemployed.
You would then be paid the same amount as before directly to your bank account in the country where you became unemployed. In principle, you can stay for up to 3 months in another country, but your home job centre might allow you to remain abroad for up to 6 months if you ask.
Please note that, even if you are an EU national, there may be rules temporarily restricting your right to work in other EU countries if you come from one of the newer EU member countries:
 temporary restrictions for Czech, Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Hungarian, Polish, Slovenian and Slovakian nationals.
 temporary restrictions for Romanian and Bulgarian nationals.
Before you leave, you must:
 have been registered as an unemployed jobseeker for at least 4 weeks(exceptions can be made) in the country where you became unemployed.
 apply for a U2 form (former E 303 form) - authorisation to export your unemployment benefits -from your national employment services.
On arrival in your new country, you will need to:
 register as a jobseeker with the national unemployment services
 submit your U2 form (former E 303 form) when you register. If you register within7 days of signing off in the country you are leaving, you will receive unemployment benefits from your date of departure
 agree to any checks made on unemployment benefits claimants in your new country, as if you were receiving unemployment benefits there.
You are advised to find out about your rights and duties as a jobseeker in your new country. They may be very different from your rights and duties in the country where you became unemployed."