Yes, if you have savings, you are first expected to use these up.

True, and the reverse as well - if you get money later you will owe the Kanton every rappen you've taken in Sozial (so if you get a job or win money, it will go straight to them, after a few years it can be hundreds of thousands).

He speaks fluent English and he is native Spanish speaker. His German is not enough for working. And yes, trust me after 18th months is llike that.

And those jobs out there...no one answer him with a possitive feedback, and he is really willing to work! Maybe the German? Maybe the experience? maybe the age? maybe a foreigner? maybe all...but he does not find anything.

I'm sure he has - but here's me - I'd much rather sweep floors than go on sozial and have to justify what brand of washing up liquid I use to a bureaucrat in an office somewhere. Has he tried McDonalds? The local cafe? Is going back to Spain an option? I don't want to sound negative but it's important you not only look at the mechanics of benefits but also how crappy it is to go on. If he hasn't found a job in 18 months have you considered what you'll do if he doesn't find a job here in 18 years?

So, he should just ignore this papers and go on with the search? Or he needs to notify that he will not require the benefits?

Anyone has a job for him? I will pay you a dinner (or a coffee, depending of the job).

That or look at other options outside CH ?

Does this apply to EUs as well?

No. Unless you're from Glasgow and you get your own shipping crate.

I was unemployed from the age of 61 to 64. I had 1 job offer which was taken back before I got home! Finally through a friend of a friend I got a job at Swisscom as a temporary office worker in the IT department. I worked for 2 years and was then retired aged 66.

The aspect I am trying to put across is I got the job by networking. If he sits at home reading the situations vacant he only has a 30% chance of finding a job. Has he received a course from the RAV on how to apply for a job? What is his profession? You haven't mentioned it yet, so we can't think of anything for him can we. Do you know that 30% of jobs are never advertised, they go by word of mouth? 40% of jobs are advertised and filled internally. So reading the paper or scanning the Internet will only show about 1 in 3 of the jobs available.

Damn...if only I was a londoner could get a free crow bar made especially for opening electronic store doors for looting!

I know, networking. But it is so dificult when we do not really know many people here.
He is a Phisical Chemist with a PnD and a couple of years in research as a postdoc. You can find many people with this experience 20 years younger... and any other job he doesn't have any experience.
We already try our best with the people we know...

It may not be a good timing for buying, but there's a very good book with a lot of tips and strategies for job hunting: "What color is your parachute?"

downloading?

So he is mid/late 40s - but with effectively only a few years post-doc research. Did he make a career change?

Possible suggestions:

1) Speak to local universities - maybe they need a lab assistant, maybe he can go in and volunteer to give lectures or take tutorials or be a guest speaker??

2) Does he have any special skills away from his PhD that he could use in a job?

Things aren't at their end - you're working - but if you don't want to go onto social (really not ideal) - advertise what he can do and what he has experience of doing. There are always opportunities!

If you receive money from Sozialamt you don't have to pay it back unless you hit the lottery or something. If you get a job (which they prefer) they're not going to ask you to pay money back. If money was loaned to you from the Sozialamt (I don't know if they have this) then yes you would have to pay it back. Other than that in a way it's "free" money, that's why it's so hard to receive it. But it's free only if you are willing to "sell your soul" so to speak...Good Luck

Just to re-iterate Ittigen's question: has he done the three-week course that the RAV offers on job-hunting techniques? I am in the middle of it at the moment, and I have to say that I am quite impressed.

Is this also offered in english?

Here in Neuchâtel it's only offered in French; however, there is at least one person in the class who is doing all the exercises (creating CVs, motivation letters, etc) in English, as all the jobs he is applying for request applications in English. The course itself is all in French though, and the teacher said that at least B2 level was a prerequisite for non native speakers.

May be different in Zürich, you would have to ask your local RAV office.

Has he asked about the BNF program? You need to have approval from your RAV advisor, but it's a program for academic/scientists where you go on a work experience placement for 3 or 6 months depending on your canton. You also get the chance to go to free courses, (writing cv, effective applications, interview skills, communication, networking etc) and is not usually a problem if you have only limited German as you're in a scientific environment so English is acceptable. You also get to meet people who work in your field and who know people in industry or at least can suggest places for you to apply to.

To be able to apply for social help you must prove that you are in such situation that you need it. for example first they check if your spouse (meaning you) works, anybody else in the family works, how much they make per month etc. If you have any account here or anywhere in the world you must provide a copy of the last 6 months of your bank statements. (just in case someone wants to "last minute" withdraw any savings)
They have a estimate of how much a family needs for living, for example i know that a
single person gets per month (1100 max. for rent, basic insurance and medical bills, and some money for expenses, vary per person age etc.)
a family of 4 gets (1800 rent, insurance of the 4 and medical bills, around 2000 per month for food and other bills)
a single person with 2 kids (1600 for rent, around 1800 per month for food and bills, all insurance and medical bills)
and so on, they will tell you according to your family what they will pay.
If you have savings or one of the spouse works, then they will give you exactly the amount you lack. ie. if they say you need 6000 per month and the spouse makes 5800 they will give you 200.

Regarding the permit, i has to do a lot with the basis of the permit.
when migration reviews your file when applying for extension, they will deny if you are in social help, but if you have a eu spouse then it might be different.
Also being in social help will make his diplomas look less important for them, meaning that they will make him pressure to take just any job available to help downsize what they pay.

In my experience they are very respectful and try to use every resource to help the family, the stigma of getting social help lies more in the society and because of some people who abuses of it. In my case I wish to work as soon as possible but they want me to wait a bit more for the kids. i am working on the german lessons, integration etc.

i hope it helped a bit and didnt confuse you even more.

regarding giving back, i did ask my arbeterin and she said in cases like wining the lottery or getting just rich.... or even living in ch with 120k other than that, they wont ask money back.

__________________
Best Zürich salon for Nails, Feet & Shellac, LUXIO, OPI click HERE