Help please with jsa

jane87

My husband is currently claiming esa with me added to the claim as his partner. But we want to close his claim so that i can make a new claim for jsa. Do we need to wait for confirmation that his esa claim has been cancelled before i can make an online application as the online form for jsa says that you cannot use it if you have been claiming esa for the last 4 weeks ( am i counted as claiming esa because i was on my husband's claim)
Thank you for any help:)

rogerblack

There is normally little or no reason to do this.
If you close the ESA claim, then several things happen.
Your husband stops accumulating NI conts.
If he was previously on IB, and was migrated over to ESA, or was on conts-based ESA but has been placed in the work-related group, then if his condition worsens to the point he qualifies for the support group he would get paid regardless of your income.
If he breaks his claim, and his condition worsens he would not get paid.
Any reapplication for ESA will take (with over a 12 week break) the normal 13 week waiting period, as well as possibly a medical, with the possibility of failure.
In addition, you will be paid less per week as a couple.
Job-seeking requirements on JSA are much stronger than as a partner on an ESA claim.
This wouldn't inherently be a problem, if JSA was good at getting you work.
You may be considerably better at gaining employment yourself however.

jane87

hi, thanks for the reply but the reason my husband wants to close down his esa claim is so that he does not have to attend wfi's and go on the work programme. The question i really need answering is :-

Do we need to wait for confirmation that his esa claim has been cancelled before i can make an online application as the online form for jsa says that you cannot use it if you have been claiming esa for the last 4 weeks ( am i counted as claiming esa because i was on my husband's claim)
Thank you for any help:)

princessdon

You do know its worse on JSA don't you?

jane87

Hi, yes i know it is but it would be me having all the hassle and not him.
The question is do we need to wait for confirmation that his esa claim has been cancelled before i can make an online application as the online form for jsa says that you cannot use it if you have been claiming esa for the last 4 weeks ( am i counted as claiming esa because i was on my husband's claim)
Thank you for any help:)

princessdon

AFAIK - you'd both need to unless children under 5.

dookar

you haven't received esa so you'll be fine to claim online

jane87

Hi, we have 3 children between 8 and 10 years old. Would we both have to sign on? We wanted it to be that my husband was the full time carer?due to school run etc. thanks

princessdon

jane87 wrote: »

Hi, we have 3 children between 8 and 10 years old. Would we both have to sign on? We wanted it to be that my husband was the full time carer?due to school run etc. thanks

That's what I think you need to clarify as my understanding (could be wrong) is that children over 5 you both seek work on a joint claim, as lone parents need to, once their child hits 5.

I'd look fully and get a reply or as I say it could be frying pan to fire for him.

jane87

thanks, i will look into it some more.

dookar

princessdon wrote: »

That's what I think you need to clarify as my understanding (could be wrong) is that children over 5 you both seek work on a joint claim, as lone parents need to, once their child hits 5.

I'd look fully and get a reply or as I say it could be frying pan to fire for him.

that only applies to income support