being made redundant need advice on benefits

mic1234

I have just been informed that I am due to be made redundant in the next few weeks and need some advice around benefits.

My wife has not worked for many years due to looking after the children who are now at school and helping her elderly grandparents. Even though I will be out of work we have agreed that she won't look to get a job because hopefully I will be back in work soon. Will the fact that she is not looking to work affect any benefits that I will be able to claim like job seekers allowance, housing benefit or council tax benefit. My wife does not claim any benefits and has never done so.

The second question is about savings. I realize that mine and my wife's savings will be taken in to account when any benefits are worked out but both of our children have savings and I wondered if these would be taken in to account with regards to benefits.

Thanks for any help on this.

cw18

From what I've read the children can have £3k in savings (each I think), but if you've only just put that money into accounts for them it would possibly be treated as yours -- they're very "hot" on what they call "capital avoidance" from what I've heard. If it's been saved over a period of time and always in accounts in their names then you should be fine as long as it doesn't exceed the limit.