Is my wife entitled to Job Seekers Allowance?

yus786

Hi all

My wife has never worked. After Uni we got married and she became the home maker. Now kids are in the teens and she wants to start working.

We've been looking for jobs for a while now but not having much experience isn't helping.

Someone told her that whilst she's looking for a job, why not apply for a Job Seekers Allowance.

Is this right?
Can she apply?
Does it not matter that i work full-time?

The kind of job she's looking for must fit in with the kids/school etc, maybe that'll go against her... i don't know.

Advises??

Thanks

concerned43

JSA? - it depends, has she been paying NI while staying at home looking after the kids? If yes then she may be entitled to contribution based JSA, if not then your income would possibly exclude her from income based JSA. Have you tried www.entitledto.com ?

stazi

She will not be entitled to JSA as you have confirmed that she has not worked, therefore not have paid any NIC. She can however, still make a JSA claim to be awarded credits for her NIC record.
Call JCP on Mon on 0800 055 6688 or claim online-
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Employedorlookingforwork/DG_10018757

yus786

stazi wrote: »

She will not be entitled to JSA as you have confirmed that she has not worked, therefore not have paid any NIC. She can however, still make a JSA claim to be awarded credits for her NIC record.
Call JCP on Mon on 0800 055 6688 or claim online-
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Employedorlookingforwork/DG_10018757

Thanks. What's the advantage in this then?

stazi

For each week Sun to Sat, a JSA credit can be awarded to your NIC records. Each credit has a 'notional' value of earnings of £93 pw. This will help with future benefit entitlement, in addition to paying NIC whilst working in a tax year. The relevant benefits are JSA, ESA, State Pension and Bereavement Benefits.

debs2327

hi ya im in a similar situation myself as ive been out of work for 7 yrs and now kids are at a easier age to be looked after i am wanting to go back to work but only having retail experience its hard , my husband works full time so we dont get benefits but i am going to call into job centre today to see if they can help me get a job which will suit my hours ( like your wife around the kids) in any way .

i have`nt paid ni as jobs ive had was part time so i know i`ll not be due to any money but the advice from them will be helpfull x good luck to your wife x

missdee85

Hi there,

I was in the jobcentre on Friday due to me getting a new job and having to sign off but was confused how to do this with a joint claim.

They told me that since i was working more than 24 hours a week my partner could only claim for national insurance conts but be receiving no money himself. Makes no sense at all seeing as i am going to be working 25 hours a week my monthly rent is £500 and i will be earning roughly £730 per month before deductions.

As they say this is a society that rewards laziness.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but thats what i was told - dont know how correct this is though, i would check to see if she is eligable just in case.

Good luck
xx

missdee85

Ok sorry it may appear that the info i was given was completely wrong - i just did a check on the direct gov website benefit checker thing

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DoItOnlineByCategory/DG_172666

that link and it comes up my partner is entitled to claim and i had to put in all my details including hours worked and wages so it doesn't seem to matter at all?

Sorr about the bad info before i can only blame government employees or the website for bad info i sure as hell am confused???

alwaysonthego_2

missdee85 wrote: »

Ok sorry it may appear that the info i was given was completely wrong - i just did a check on the direct gov website benefit checker thing

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DoItOnlineByCategory/DG_172666

that link and it comes up my partner is entitled to claim and i had to put in all my details including hours worked and wages so it doesn't seem to matter at all?

Sorr about the bad info before i can only blame government employees or the website for bad info i sure as hell am confused???

You were correct first time, if you work more than 24 hours she cannot claim income based JSA and you earn too much, but if she has enough NI conts for tax years 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 then she can claim conts based JSA.