Need some help regarding JSA Benefit

darrenm28

We have twin boys aged 4 who are starting full time primary school in Sept.

For the first time in 5 years my wife will now be in a position to look for some work.

In the past she hasn't claimed JSA as hasn't been in a position to accept work.

However as we dont get any help taking boys to school and picking them up she will still be restricted on jobs she can apply for.

In an ideal world she will either get a job working evenings, which wouldn't restrict how many hours she can work. Or alternatively a job during the day when the boys are at school.

We know in the current climate it is going to be difficult to find a job that fits around the hours she will be available to work.

So my question is will my wife be able to claim JSA or will they say she is being too picky with the hours she is available to work?

And also, is there a minimum number of hours she has to be available to work in order to claim JSA?

Would we need to disclose if she does claim JSA to the child tax credits?

Is it even worth claiming JSA as will the child tax credits be adjusted down to reflect she is now claiming JSA?

Thanks for any help.

viktory

Your wife will not be eligible for contributions based Job Seekers Allowance as she hasn't paid the required contributions. Income based JSA is dependent on your wages (assuming you work). As the law says you only need (I think) £105 a week, it is unlikely your wage is low enough for her to be eligible for income based JSA. She'll be seeking work, I assume, to help the family finances, not to gain an additional benefit.

darrenm28

viktory wrote: »

Your wife will not be eligible for contributions based Job Seekers Allowance as she hasn't paid the required contributions. Income based JSA is dependent on your wages (assuming you work). As the law says you only need (I think) £105 a week, it is unlikely your wage is low enough for her to be eligible for income based JSA. She'll be seeking work, I assume, to help the family finances, not to gain an additional benefit.

My basic is 19k with bonuses approx 23k per annum.

She has paid into the system for 20 years prior to having children.

She wants a job but if there is nothing avaible surely she should be entiled to JSA.

She has been honest and not claimed in the past when i'm sure many would've.

viktory

darrenm28 wrote: »

My basic is 19k with bonuses approx 23k per annum.

She has paid into the system for 20 years prior to having children.

She wants a job but if there is nothing avaible surely she should be entiled to JSA.

She has been honest and not claimed in the past when i'm sure many would've.

Definitely not eligible for income based JSA then. Eligibility for contributions JSA is based on NI payments for the two full preceding tax years. It doesn't matter how many years she paid into the system prior to this.

She is not entitled to Job Seekers Allowance no matter how honest she has been in the past. Sorry if this isn't what you want to hear.

darrenm28

Thanks anyway.

Yeah that is a bit of a blow.

Adereterial

She can still sign on for NI credits only, she just won't receive any payments.

She will need to be willing to work a minimum of 16 hours per week and will be able to restrict her hours to school hours only, evenings and weekends. You should be aware that if you don't work weekends she will be expected to be available to work then as they will expect you to take care of your sons whilst she works.

She doesn't have to do this, but can choose to if she wishes.

skintbint_2

find out who does the catering at the schools or the cleaning that way you dont have the hassle of school holidays and childcare to contend with!
benefit is rated on the amount of paid contributions in the two tax years preceeding the benefit year - benefit year is 2011 (runs january to december) so its the two full years prior to this i.e. 2008/2009 and 2009/2010

Fiver29

skintbint wrote: »

find out who does the catering at the schools or the cleaning that way you dont have the hassle of school holidays and childcare to contend with!
benefit is rated on the amount of paid contributions in the two tax years preceeding the benefit year - benefit year is 2011 (runs january to december) so its the two full years prior to this i.e. 2008/2009 and 2009/2010

Those jobs (in fact any in schools) are the most sought after jobs by parents. After 5 years out she may struggle to get a foot in the door there.

If she's not going to get any benefits anyway, volunteering in a school might be a way to get started.