I left a well-paid but stressful job abroad to come back to England and eventually set myself up as a freelancer.
I decided, however, to take about 4 months off first to relax and recover before getting back into things.
I was fortunate enough to have enough money saved to just about pay my way during that period (but not much more). A few of my friends urged me to sign on to the dole (or more likely income support).
I didn't do it for two reasons:
1 - It didn't seem right. I had been on income support in the past when I really needed it, and even though I was still entitled, I didn't feel that my situation justified taking money when other people needed it more. This is not the same as not signing on out of pride!
2 - As I have seen with several of my friends, once you are signed on, you are given all kinds of hoops to jump through by the authorities- supposedly in order to make being signed on uncomfortable. Unfortunately, this often has the opposite effect and fighting to remain on the dole becomes like a job in itself. It drains your energy and you lose the initiative you need to go out and do something else.