Income based jobseekers?

Flashdaisy

Hello

My DH is working as a subcontractor (therefore classed as self-employed) tradesman, and has been informed his contract will come to an end in the very near future. I know that there are issues in claiming contribution based JSA if you have been self employed, but is it possible to claim income based JSA, or if your self-employed work stops are you classed as having left a job? He is obviously looking hard for new work but there seems to be very very little around right now.

We have 2 children and are due to have another baby in a month, I know we will qualify for full tax credits etc, but the JSA is instead of income support isn't it?

Many thanks

AsknAnswer

If he makes a claim to Income Based JSA, they will take the income of the household into account. i.e; your income if you have any. It's probably worth me saying that if you are in paid employment of 24 hours per week or more, it is highly unlikely he will qualify for Income Based JSA.

If he is self employed and there is no work available, then there is no work available. You can't leave a job that's not there to begin with. He's not being removed from the contract; the contract is coming to an end.

Flashdaisy

Many thanks Asknanswer!

I don't work at the moment as am currently pregnant with baby #3, so the only income we'd get is child tax credit and child benefit plus a very small amount of maintenance from DD1's father.

alwaysonthego_2

Flashdaisy wrote: »

Many thanks Asknanswer!

I don't work at the moment as am currently pregnant with baby #3, so the only income we'd get is child tax credit and child benefit plus a very small amount of maintenance from DD1's father.

Do you have savings over £6000?

You probably can claim IBJSA, depending on the above, LHA/mortgage interest (13 weeks), CTB, CTC, CB.

If you get JSA and/or higher than the family element of CTC, you should be able to claim the sure start maternity grant. You are also entitled to the health in pregnancy grant.

Flashdaisy

alwaysonthego wrote: »

Do you have savings over £6000?

No, no savings at the moment :-(

alwaysonthego_2

Flashdaisy wrote: »

No, no savings at the moment :-(

See above, I edited my post.

Inform TCO that your husband's income has changed and ask them to assess it on the current year. Just to warn you make sure you overestimate your income so you don't get an overpayment.

Flashdaisy

Thanks Alwaysonthego. We're on a fairly low income at the moment so have just received the SS grant and of course the HIPG. Will definitely claim all we're entitled to if DH can't find more work.

Regarding the mortgage help, it now kicks in after only 13 weeks doesn't it? Does anyone know what you're meant to do for those 13 weeks? Would we have to request a payment holiday from our lender (they say they don't do them, but I think lenders have to be more accommodating and fair nowadays don't they?) ?

Thanks

alwaysonthego_2

Flashdaisy wrote: »

Regarding the mortgage help, it now kicks in after only 13 weeks doesn't it? Does anyone know what you're meant to do for those 13 weeks? Would we have to request a payment holiday from our lender (they say they don't do them, but I think lenders have to be more accommodating and fair nowadays don't they?) ?

Thanks

You need to contact them and ask them for a payment holiday, though they do not have to give you one, or ask for an interest only mortgage. The important thing is to keep paying them even if you cannot affor dto pay them the whole amount.