job seeker allowance -partner working full time

cherilady

Hi there,

I am a little confused and i hope someone can clarify and advice...

Ive got made redundant and actively seeking for work. Potentially i might land myself in doing some waitress work, less than 15 hours a week.

My current partner works full time, above 35 hours.

Question is - am i entitled to job seekers allowance as i read somewhere in the guidance that if your partner works more than 24 hours a week, i wont be entitle to any claim. or am i confusing myself with income allowance? how do both benefit works?

I do know i am not entitled to contribution based as i've not contribute enough NI from my previous part time job

We've got no children. Cheers for any reply.

HB58

If you are seeking work you will be entitled to contributory JSA if you have made enough NI contributions. I'm afraid you would not be able to claim income-related JSA due to your partner's work.

Robbie64

It depends on whether you claimed contributory or income based JSA. If the latter you wouldn't receive it regardless of whether you are working. If your partner works 24 hours or more that would automatically disbar you from getting JSA. If it is contributions based then it depends on your income, and if you work 15 hours at even minimum wage you probably won't receive JSA anyway due to your own income.

cherilady

Wow....

For start, i know i am not eligible for contribution based as ive tried that and they reverted back to me that i didnt paid enough NI.

So if my part time work didnt work out, so i havent got any income or support beside pinching off my husband?

sulkisu

cherilady wrote: »

i havent got any income or support beside pinching off my husband?

An interesting choice of words.

Chrissiew

I think they would see it more as your Husband supporting you rather than you pinching off him

cherilady

hehe..i meant i need to 'depend' on my husband to give me that extra support...I have a part time job to back up, just afraid of loosing it...

Just to be more clear, there are 2 type of JSA - contribution and income based?

How about employment and support allowance? Is JSA different from this or just different wording?

and there is income support?

fatblackandwhite

Yes, there are two types of JSA - income based and contribution based.

Employment and Support Allowance is a benefit for people unable to work due to health/disabilities and also either income based or contribution based.

Income Support is a benefit for people unable to work and is entirely means tested (based on income).

Based on the information you have provided you would not be entitled to any of these benefits.

If you rent your home you may now be entitled to some Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit but this would be dependent on the household income (and any capital you may have).

If you were previously making a joint claim for Working Tax Credits - make sure you notify the helpline that your income has dropped.

cherilady

Many thanks for all the replies..

Now this leads to me a more worrying situation :-
I know now that i cant claim any benefit neither my work, currently on £60 a week which contributed £0 to NI ( say i get this amount for the rest of my life)...Does that mean in longer run when i retire, i am not entitled to any pension at all?

Sorry for asking so many question, i am new to this and has not claimed anything before..

epitome

You can sign on to JSA as a "non claimant" and you will get your NI credits paid for you (curently worth about £12.50 per week), if you want to do this phone the claims line and ask for "Nat Insurance credits only" claim - 10 min phone call

Employment Support Allowance (ESA) = For people with sick note from doctor, you would only get this if you have paid enough NI contributions - which you say you haven't.....There is also an ESA Income based (like JSA below) but as your partner works full time you don't qualify.
You would not get ESA

Income Support (IS) = Generally for:

• Lone parents with a child under 7
• People who get Carers allowance
• people who are pregnant within 11 weeks of due date and partner not working or working few hours
• Young people under 20 not living with parents but in F/T education which they started before they turned 19

You would not get IS

Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) = Contributions based if you have paid enough NI conts...
you would not get this
Income Based....If you don't have more than £16000 and your partner does not work more than 24 hours per week, but even if they did work less than that....... any income they have or income you have will be deducted from the £106 per week basic allowance for a couple.
You would not get JSA C or JSA IB

You may get.....
Help with dental & optician etc costs using an HC1 form (but unlikely)
Child Benefit
Child Tax credit 0845 3003900
Working tax credit 0845 3003900
Housing Benefit (for Rent) available from your council
Council Tax benefit (to pay your CT bill) available from your council
National Insurance Only Credits from the Jobcentre 08000 556688

cherilady

epitome wrote: »

You can sign on to JSA as a "non claimant" and you will get your NI credits paid for you (curently worth about £12.50 per week), if you want to do this phone the claims line and ask for "Nat Insurance credits only" claim - 10 min phone call

Thanks. Will try the above.

Quite surprise and confusing- the system.

A lot of people ( least some i know) who doesnt work make it sound or look so easy to claim those benefits and look as if they live life way better off than those who works and scrimps and still not able to save at the end of the month.:(