JSA Entitlement/Sure Start Grant - following redundancy

Morgan34

Hi
Wondering if anyone can help.  I am going through a redundancy process and my Employer has stated that my contract will terminate 31st August 2020 (on a partial pay in lieu of notice basis).  This means that I don't qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay, although would qualify for Maternity Allowance.
Am I able to apply for earnings based Jobseekers allowance (been employed full time by the same company for 8 years) after 31st August which would  then mean I qualify for the Sure Start Grant (1st child)?  I could then around 10 weeks before due apply for Maternity Allowance and stop Jobseekers allowance at that time?
Many thanks in advance as I have not had to look into things like this before

Morgan34

Forgot to say due date is 26th January 2021 and so it would just be a few weeks for JSA and then switch over onto the Maternity Allowance 
Thanks again

poppy12345

The only JSA that you can claim now is New style JSA which is Contributions based. You won't be able to claim this grant when claiming NS/JSA. See link. https://www.gov.uk/sure-start-maternity-grant/eligibility

You can't claim for Maternity Allowance and NS/JSA at the same time either.

Look at claiming Universal Credit. If you have savings/capital of more than £16,000 you'll be excluded from claiming. The Maternity Allowance will be deducted £1 for £1 from any UC entitlement. Use a benefits calculator. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator/Intro/Home?cid=cb705614-7164-4d82-b4bd-d57296132648

If you claim UC then you should wait until after you receive your redunacy pay before claiming, otherwise it will affect the amount you receive.

Morgan34

Thanks - I don't believe we can claim UC as my partner works full time - we definitely don't have savings over £16,000 even with redundancy
I was thinking it might be possible to claim the new earnings related JSA  and the Sure Start Grant and then once Sure Start Grant is applied for switch over to the Maternity Allowance if that makes sense?
I will also check the calculator 

poppy12345

As previously advised the only JSA that you can claim now is New style JSA which is Contributions based and you can't claim for the sure start grant when claiming this.   Did you look at the link i posted in my previous comment? It states the criteria for claiming the grant in that.

If you're looking for work then you can claim NS/JSA until your Maternity allowance starts.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-jobseekers-allowance

Spoonie_Turtle

UC replaced income-related JSA.

Worth checking about any UC entitlement though, just so you're sure either way. (It is based on income rather than hours worked, so it depends on how much your partner earns.)

calcotti

OP says they have been employed by same company full time for 8 years so should be able to claim new style JSA. I suspect that when OP says earnings related JSA they do mean contribution based rather than income based - have just confused us because 'earnings based' has no meaning in benefits terms.

calcotti

You cannot claim Sure Start grant unless you are receiving means tested benefits https://www.gov.uk/sure-start-maternity-grant/eligibility
In your case that would mean establishing entitlement to UC. Worth doing a benefit check to see if you are entitled now or whether you will become entitled once your child is born (in which case you could claim Sure Start after the birth).
Benefit calculators here https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

Morgan34

Yes sorry I do mean contribution based not earnings.  I will look at the calculators thank you all for your help

harvest99

Similar similar query on behalf of my daughter who has been made redundant after 3 years with this company. I went on entitled to and filled out her details, they said she was entitled to UC AT £94 per week but when I went on the Gov website it said she was entitled to new style JSA at £74 per week, very confused I was advised the entitled to calculator was the place to start.

poppy12345

harvest99 said:

Similar similar query on behalf of my daughter who has been made redundant after 3 years with this company. I went on entitled to and filled out her details, they said she was entitled to UC AT £94 per week but when I went on the Gov website it said she was entitled to new style JSA at £74 per week, very confused I was advised the entitled to calculator was the place to start.

Please start your own thread with your question. It gets very confusing asking questions on other peoples threads.