Redundancy for young mum

LittleVoice

Yesterday I asked about how many hours of work she intends to try to find and also about her NI contributions over the last couple of years.

Those are relevant questions in relation to claiming JSA.

cte1111

I'm currently in a similar position. I went to claim JSA for the first time today. My husband is working, and I am claiming contribution based JSA. My children will be at home with me for now, but if / when I get a job, they will be going to nursery / after school club etc.

The jobcentre said that it is fine to claim in these circumstances. As long as you are applying for at least 2 jobs a week, then you are entitled to JSA. (Well I'm sure that's too simplistic, but pretty much what they said.)

It is a difficult situation, and it can be hard to restart childcare once you have been offered a job, but I have managed it in the past when I have been in and out of work.

Re tax credits, don't take people's word for it that you will be entitled to help with childcare, we are not, and my husband does not earn a forture, however when we have both been working we have been entitled to very little. Best to think of it as nothing, and then if you do get some tax credits, it will be a bonus.

Your daughter will also have to say that she is available for full time work, but again I am in a similar situation, as I am really hoping for part time work. The advisor at the job centre helped me look for part and full time work, although the only jobs that I could find to apply for are full time, so I will apply for them.

Debt_Free_Chick

Newly_retired wrote: »

Thanks for your replies. Maybe I didn't word it very well.
It's a vicious circle. If she is not earning, she can't afford to continue with nursery for the children. If she hasn't got childcare she is not able to be available for work, so can't sign on for JSA. I can't see a way round this.

I see what you mean, but I think you're interpreting the requirements a little too strictly. She doesn't need to be "able to drop everything and rush off to work at a minute's notice". She simply needs to be in a position to take up a job offer, if a suitable one is made. So she can sign on for JSA as she is willing and able to work. She then simply fits her interviews etc around the children, perhaps getting suitable childcare as and when needed. Once she finds another job, she will then be in a position to make the more permanent arrangements necessary for her to work.

Newly_retired

That's really helpful, thanks to all who have replied.

Newly_retired

LittleVoice wrote: »

Yesterday I asked about how many hours of work she intends to try to find and also about her NI contributions over the last couple of years.

Those are relevant questions in relation to claiming JSA.

Yes I understand why you asked that.
Not sure. Ideally she would prefer to work 3 days a week or approx 24 hours.
Not sure whether her NI was paid during the whole of her maternity leave.
I know that is important. I'll ask her.

Newly_retired

Well just to update, DD did not after all get made redundant as she and some other young mums offered a package to reduce their hours which was accepted. But huge numbers in her firm have lost their jobs, so it was a bitter-sweet moment when she found out.

Newly_retired

DD is going to take a 3 month sabbatical in the summer ( not a bad time to be off, with 2 smalll children). She will continue to be employed and her firm will pay her pension contributions and presumably NI - great.