Benefits advice needed

Little-Else

I am 36 and have worked since 13 years of age, have never been out of work, never been sick from work and nor has my husband until very recently, his job is very technical and very specialised.
He is 49 and was made redundant in Feb. He has had 5 interviews in 3 countries so far and no luck but hopefully soon and hopefully in the UK!
In the meantime I earn £24k a year and this is now our sole income. Neither of us has ever claimed any kind of benefit, we don't have children and own our home (mortgaged)
My husband and I know nothing at all about benefits but it's a struggle that is already evident. Up to this point in our lives we've coped but I fear an interest rate hike could make things unmanagable. We have cut out all superfluous spending and have no financial buffer.
Does anyone know what if anything we can claim on a sole income of £24k?

healy

Little-Else wrote: »

I am 36 and have worked since 13 years of age, have never been out of work, never been sick from work and nor has my husband until very recently, his job is very technical and very specialised.
He is 49 and was made redundant in Feb. He has had 5 interviews in 3 countries so far and no luck but hopefully soon and hopefully in the UK!
In the meantime I earn £24k a year and this is now our sole income. Neither of us has ever claimed any kind of benefit, we don't have children and own our home (mortgaged)
My husband and I know nothing at all about benefits but it's a struggle that is already evident. Up to this point in our lives we've coped but I fear an interest rate hike could make things unmanagable. We have cut out all superfluous spending and have no financial buffer.
Does anyone know what if anything we can claim on a sole income of £24k?

I doubt you will be able to claim anything but you could try entitledto.com to make sure.

Sorry, as others have said if he has paid enough NI contributions in the the 2007/8 and 2008/9 tax years he should be able to claim contribution based JSA for up to 6 months.

McKneff

Would he be able to claim JSA or is that a no no because of household income.

Little-Else

Thanks for the reply I appreciate it, that was what I feared but thought I would check. Have looked at Entitled to but that all assumes you are claiming unemployment, my husband doesnt so it seems we could get no help. Bizarre system as we're both workaholics and have never taken a bean from society (but put lots of tax in) as we fundamentally see it as a safety net, not a right, and when we find ourselves in a sitation where we might need some help we would get nothing. Whereas lots of !!!!less people who can't be bothered to work or churn out endless children can claim hundreds.

Little-Else

I think as I work FT, unemployment benefit is not allowed, just been reading the advise on CAB.

Little-Else

I'm so confused!!!!

AnxiousMum

Has your husband paid NI contributions to be entitled to JSA? Did he ever apply for it when he was made redundant? Your income is only taken into account if he's claiming income based jsa - but not if he's claiming contributions based. Do you have children?

Starrystarrynight

Surely he should be entitled to claim contributions based JSA?

thorsoak

From what you say, do I understand that your OH was made redundant in February - if so, has he been claiming contribution-based JSA since then? And that you are worried as to what you can claim after July when the 6 months is up? Am I correct?

As you are earning £24,000 then your OH will not be able to claim anything. If you are finding it difficult to budget at the present time, why not do your soa and post on the debt-free wannabe board? You may get some constructive advice from the posters there.

And I'm being an absolute pedant when I post that as you are not liable to pay NI until over 16, any paid work you did from the age of 13 to 16 does not count towards any benefits.

devildog

If I recall correctly(although this was some time ago) there are two options either claim for a family in which case they would take into account your wage and so basically prob not worth applying or simply apply for JSA for himself(whereby they would disregrad what you earn)
When we were in a similar situation (albeit with children) we found it worked out better for oh to claim just for himself(not for the family) and I earnt what I could.

lovetowinacar

Little-Else wrote: »

I am 36 and have worked since 13 years of age, have never been out of work, never been sick from work and nor has my husband until very recently, his job is very technical and very specialised.
He is 49 and was made redundant in Feb. He has had 5 interviews in 3 countries so far and no luck but hopefully soon and hopefully in the UK!
In the meantime I earn £24k a year and this is now our sole income. Neither of us has ever claimed any kind of benefit, we don't have children and own our home (mortgaged)
My husband and I know nothing at all about benefits but it's a struggle that is already evident. Up to this point in our lives we've coped but I fear an interest rate hike could make things unmanagable. We have cut out all superfluous spending and have no financial buffer.


Does anyone know what if anything we can claim on a sole income of £24k?

JSA ? Did he receive redundancy pay?
Did you take out insurance to cover mortgage payments in event of no employment?
Might be worth speaking to lender to see if payments could be lowered for a while to help - or if capital and interest loan increase the term

Also take a look at the money saving threads - you will be surprised how far £24,000 can stretch - many families live on a lot less - look at everything you spend money on and look for savings that can be made