Wife Redundant

rob290482

Hi,

My wife got made redundant a few weeks ago and now wants to know how to help some help.

She was only part time and i am the main earner, however, we have 2 young children so her wage was actually needed.

We have around £5k of savings at most and she used to earn around £6k per annum. My income is a little under £40k per annum.

She has registered online for JSA and got an interview lined up. The issue is that whilst she would like to get a job she may not be able to for the next few months at least given the fact we have a 7 month old baby and a 3 years old.

Any advice on what she can do / or what help she / we can get?

I know a few may say "well you get £40k so thats more than enough" but its not that much when you split it over 2 adults and 2 kids.

Rob

Londoner_1

My income is well under that an di manage with a wife who is a house wife plus 2 kids and based in London.

Horseunderwater

r!!!90482 wrote: »

Hi,

My wife got made redundant a few weeks ago and now wants to know how to help some help.

She was only part time and i am the main earner, however, we have 2 young children so her wage was actually needed.

We have around £5k of savings at most and she used to earn around £6k per annum. My income is a little under £40k per annum.

She has registered online for JSA and got an interview lined up. The issue is that whilst she would like to get a job she may not be able to for the next few months at least given the fact we have a 7 month old baby and a 3 years old.

Any advice on what she can do / or what help she / we can get?

I know a few may say "well you get £40k so thats more than enough" but its not that much when you split it over 2 adults and 2 kids.

Rob

I am sorry - but it is more than enough to live on. Try living on a 3rd of that and then you can complain. If you seriously cannot manage then you need to adjust your spending down - negotiate better insurance, energy deals, buy only a certain amount of food not go for bogof's where one lot usually gets chucked out. Go check out the boards for thrift and money saving.

anamenottaken

r!!!90482 wrote: »

Hi,

My wife got made redundant a few weeks ago and now wants to know how to help some help.

She was only part time and i am the main earner, however, we have 2 young children so her wage was actually needed.

We have around £5k of savings at most and she used to earn around £6k per annum. My income is a little under £40k per annum.

She has registered online for JSA and got an interview lined up. The issue is that whilst she would like to get a job she may not be able to for the next few months at least given the fact we have a 7 month old baby and a 3 years old.

Any advice on what she can do / or what help she / we can get?

I know a few may say "well you get £40k so thats more than enough" but its not that much when you split it over 2 adults and 2 kids.

Rob

Was your wife paying NI over the last 2-3 years? If not, she would not be eligible for contributions based JSA.

She would, however, be eligible for NI credits IF she were actively seeking work of over 16 hours a week and able to take it up. Will she be able to show that she is job seeking and has arrangements in place to take up such work?

happycamel_2

Obviously you have commitments based in your total income, eg mortgage etc so I I can understand why a more than 10% drop in income would affect a family.

You should be claiming full CB for both kids and she can claim JSA so long as she is genuinely looking for work. You need to balance childcare costs with the amount she would earn. Depending on her skills it might be best for her to do shift work so you take care of the kids while she works.

anamenottaken

happycamel wrote: »

Obviously you have commitments based in your total income, eg mortgage etc so I I can understand why a more than 10% drop in income would affect a family.

You should be claiming full CB for both kids and she can claim JSA so long as she is genuinely looking for work and has paid appropriate NI contributions. You need to balance childcare costs with the amount she would earn. Depending on her skills it might be best for her to do shift work so you take care of the kids while she works.

..........

MoneySavingMission

Enough NI contributions over the last few years should make her eligible for contribution based jsa. She must look for work and proof will be required to claim this benefit.

McKneff

You could maybe do an SOA and try to budget better,

And yes, it is an enormous amount of money, but its all relative as to what yo have got used to spending it on.

Folk up here are living on less than half of what you are earning, but again, it depends spending habits.

An SOA is the way to go. I bet there is loads you could cut out or cut down on.
Hope your wife finds a job soon.