Is my wife entitled to JSA?

Dave_Z

Hello All,

Hoping for some help on entitlement to JSA or equivalent as am getting a lot of mixed messages.  My wife lost her job in July due to covid and successfully claimed for contribution-based JSA.  We got that for 6 months and it ended in Jan.  There was no guidance on what further help could be available.  We spoke to DWP and were told on 2 different occasions that she couldn't claim any more and then that we should wait until the new tax year in April and claim again then.

I've done a couple of the benefits calculators and they seem to suggest she can't claim anything.  I'm really confused as to why.  My wife is 37 and has been employed constantly since the age of 18.  She has never been out of work or had to claim in her life until now.  Seems very odd and unfair that she is apparently only entitled to 6 months' JSA and then nothing.  She's applied for countless jobs and got nowhere and with how many people must be chasing each job I don't expect that will get easier anytime soon.  Just looking for a bit of sense-check on this really as we are starting to wonder how we'll make ends meet over the next 6 months if she doesn't find new employment soon.

Dave

p00hsticks

It's possible that she might now be able to claim another six months contributions based JSA - the NI years used for her original claim would have been tax years 2017-18 and 2018-19, but at the start of this calendar year that would have advanced to 2018-19 and 2019-20, and if her records allow I think she may therefore be able to put in a fresh claim for another six months, once 12 weeks have passed form the closure of her oroginal claim. The expert people over on the benefits board would be able to confirm or deny this.

The other benefit possibility would be UC - but this is means tested and as a couple it will depend on both your incomes, and  your savings.

Dave_Z

Thanks.  So could be about right what they were saying about applying again in April.  Her claim ended on Jan 20th so 12 weeks would be April 14th.  She would've been full time employed for 18/19 and 19/20 tax years so can't see that she shouldn't have made the necessary contributions.