Confused: We have joint JSA Claim, now partner is having a caesarean...

ipswichbhoy

Good afternoon all,

I am new to the forum, and really need some advice. This is my last resort as all else has failed. I dont want to ask the Job Centre directly as I fear they may sanction my JSA as a result.

I recently started claiming JSA for me and my partner, who is pregnant, on the 10 Jan 2014.

I am a self-employed carpenter who has worked all my life. However, since Christmas, work has been very dry in my local area hence the reason for the JSA claim.

Unfortunately, we found out today that our unborn baby is 'breech' meaning my partner will have to have a caesarean section on the 12th February.

As part of my JSA claimant commitment, it states I have to be spending 35 hours per week looking for work, actively seeking employemnt and be available to work anytime etc etc...

But we have four boys (ages 11, 8, 3, 1) and our little bundle of joy (a girl ) coming very soon, and given the fact my partner has to have a C-section, she will not be able to look after the kids on her own for 6-8 weeks at the very least, meaning I will not be able to work.

I actually had to turn down an offer of employment for 3-4 weeks work this morning as I would be unable to honour the contract given the unforseen change in our personal circumstances.

I oringinally thought at first I would be able to get some form of carers allowance. However, upon researching this today it appears that one can only be in receipt of carers allowance if they are caring for someone in receipt of disability benefit. And to get disability benefit, my partner would have to be on long-term sick of over at least a year.

So we are pretty confused... we have no idea what to do or what we would be entitled to, and I dont want to tell the jobcentre just yet as I fear they will sanction the JSA straight away... we cant afford to lose the JSA as we are barely making ends meet with it and the tax credits at the moment.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. Anyone with any help and advice, it would be very much appreciated.

Many thanks

Indie_Kid

You may be able to claim income support instead. I am not too sure what the limits are for that, in regards to how close to birth / how many weeks the baby is.

nannytone_2

your partner can make a claim for income support ( she will claim for you) from when she is 29 weeks pregnant.
she can continue to claim until the baby is 15 weeks old . then you must reclaim JSA

Poppie68

If the DWP find out you are turning down work regardless of circumstances they may sanction you.... Many women are back on their feet quickly these days after a section so it just as wise to maybe recruit a family member or friend to be on hand to help your wife for a while incase another job offer comes your way.


There you go Nannytone answered correctly....in the meantime a friend or family member may still be a good idea...for sanity purposes...

Removed the irrelevent info..

tinkledom

nannytone wrote: »

your partner can make a claim for income support ( she will claim for you) from when she is 29 weeks pregnant.
she can continue to claim until the baby is 15 weeks old . then you must reclaim JSA

15 weeks? At last count I thought that it was when the child was 3, used to be 5.

Indie_Kid

tinkledom wrote: »

15 weeks? At last count I thought that it was when the child was 3, used to be 5.

No, that's for single parents claiming IS.

tinkledom

FBaby wrote: »

How nice that this is given as an option for partners who don't work when those who do are lucky to get 2 weeks off....

Still, another illogical rule to the advantage of those in OP's situation who might as well make the best of it.

2 weeks off??? It all depends on the amount of maternity leave mum takes. She can have up to 52 weeks. If she goes back to work, paternity leave of up to 26 weeks can be taken off.

Tenyearstogo

Why won't she able to look after the children alone for 8 weeks? It's an elective section. Are there other issues?

Cate1976

Is your wife excused from looking for work due to your youngest child being under 5? If not then get this sorted before your girl is born.

On JSA you can be excused from looking for work for 2 weeks to go on holiday in the UK so might be worth you asking if you can be excused from looking for work for the 2 weeks from 12th February. After that, your wife is likely to be well enough to be able to manage but have family/friends available in case there's anything that she can't manage with the 1 & 3 year olds.

Regarding Income Support, here's the link to who's entitled to it: https://www.gov.uk/income-support/eligibility.

Just to point out that even if you did see & apply for a job on 13th February, by the time you've had the interview, you're not likely to be starting until 2 weeks later by which time your wife will be able to manage the younger children.

I'd mention the c section at your next signing & see what they say. I'd have thought that you could still meet your JSAG even though you'll be having to help your wife. There's also half term (week beginning 17th Feb here in Norfolk) & maybe your 11 & 8 year olds could help out by playing with the younger ones for example. Your 3 year old maybe able to help out by passing things to your wife such as nappies & baby wipes at changing time.

If your wife goes on parenting websites such as Bounty & asks on the c section board, she'll get replies from other women who've had c sections, everyone is different but she'll get some idea of how much she maybe able to do if all goes well & how little she'll be able to do if there's complications. If you've got family or friends who've had c sections ask them what they were able to do 2-3 weeks after the c section.

You're doing the right thing by planning for the time after the birth but my view is to not go down the Income Support route as the claim is unlikely to be processed in time for the birth. Adding the baby to your existing tax credits claim could take 2-3 weeks to be processed, can't remember how long Child Benefit took.

Make sure you inform HB as soon as possible so that can be recalculated to allow for you having 5 children.

Hope all goes well.

FBaby

tinkledom wrote: »

2 weeks off??? It all depends on the amount of maternity leave mum takes. She can have up to 52 weeks. If she goes back to work, paternity leave of up to 26 weeks can be taken off.

It's not about maternity leave but about paternity leave. When you work, you can't both have the time off together and get benefits for it. Yet, if no-one is working, the father gets to be at home and dedicate all his time to look after his partner and children, and together they receive a payment.

tinkledom

FBaby wrote: »

It's not about maternity leave but about paternity leave. When you work, you can't both have the time off together and get benefits for it. Yet, if no-one is working, the father gets to be at home and dedicate all his time to look after his partner and children, and together they receive a payment.

When working you have the option of taking holidays with pay?


I know where I used to work, the women added their leave entitlement to their maternity leave and had a year off work.


Surely you don't both need to be off for more than the first two weeks?
I didn't when my wife had twins following an emergency C section, I took a week off and was glad to be back at work. Never saw my wife when I got home at night in anything other than her PJ's and a housecoat.