SELF EMPLOYED/CONTRACT WORKER
This policy is available to self employed, contract workers, sub-contract workers
or workers with more than one job.
The terms and conditions in relation to Accident and Sickness claims are the same
for all policy holders. However the terms and conditions of an unemployment claim
will vary according to how your unemployment comes about and the nature of your
employment contract at that time. Please see conditions under the relevant heading
below.
To be considered as unemployed, you must be in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance.
If you are ineligible for Job Seekers Allowance, we will waive the requirement to
be in receipt of this provided you are receiving National Insurance Credits. If
you are dismissed from your employment, this must be due to circumstances beyond
your control and not due to your gross misconduct.
Self-employed (or employed by a member of your immediate family)
If you are self-employed, (or employed by a member of your immediate family), your
business must have totally and permanently ceased to trade as a direct result of
it being unable to pay its debts as and when they fell due. The onus will be on
you to provide such proof of this in the event of any claim.
If you are Company Director, your company must have been wound up by a creditor
who is not a director of that company to be able to claim for unemployment.
If you were employed by:-
- (a) a limited liability partnership or a company of which you or your immediate
family were a director and/or shareholder (other than by way of a bona fide investment
in a company quoted on a recognised stock exchange); or
- (b) someone who is self-employed or by a partnership, where the person who is self-employed,
or any of the partners of the partnership is a member of your immediate family;
and you wish to make an unemployment claim, then, the company, partnership or person
by whom you were employed must have totally and permanently ceased to trade at the
same time or immediately following you becoming unemployed.
Contract Employment
If you were employed as a contract worker you will be able to claim in the following
circumstances:
- (a) If you have been working on a renewable fixed term contract with the same employer
for more than 2 consecutive years, you may be insured if you are dismissed as you
will be classified as being in permanent employment under the terms of this policy.
- (b) If you were employed on a permanent basis by the same employers but were transferred
to a fixed-term contract by the employer without a break in Employment You will
be classified as being in permanent employment under the terms of this Policy.
- (c) If you have been on contract employment working on a renewable fixed-term contract
with the same employer for less than 2 consecutive years, you may be insured if
you are dismissed during the term of your contract. You will not be insured against
the non-renewal of your contract and any entitlement to monthly benefit under this
policy will automatically cease on the date your contract was originally intended
to terminate. In addition, if you are not able to meet the employment criteria in
(a) to (c) above, and your contract has been terminated before the due expiry date,
you may be eligible to claim benefit for the period until the original expiry date
of the fixed-term contract, subject to the maximum of 12 months being paid.
More than one Job
If you have more than one job you will be eligible to claim unemployment benefit
should you lose at least one job, providing:
- 1. You are working in your remaining job for less than 16 hours per week and
- 2. You are able to register with the Department for Work and Pensions for Job Seekers
Allowance (JSA) and provide evidence of actively seeking work.
However, please note that should you be Company Director, whether remunerated or
not (in addition to being in full time employment) and you then lose the employed
job, you will only be able to claim unemployment benefit if the business or company
of which you are a Company Director also ceases to trade.