Not sure if I can get any benefits?

Saria

Hi, I've recently found out that I will be made redundant soon (still waiting to find out when) and I've been stressing out about it. I'm trying to find out if there will be any help available for me, but I can't figure it out. Most calculators seem to say I get nothing. Can you help me out please? 

I'm an EU national with settled status and I've worked for the last 9 years so have enough NI contributions.
I live together with my partner and we have a house with a mortgage (we pay about £745 per month).
We receive no benefits or anything, our only income will be from my partner. After his pension, NI, tax income and student loan he is left with £1848.
Our savings are less than £6000.

Is my partner's income too high for me to be able to get any support? With our mortgage, council tax, utilities, insurance, bills, food etc, I'm worried that we will struggle with money. If anything breaks down or needs fixing, we won't be able to afford it. 

Thanks for any advice.

poppy12345

New Style JSA would be possible as this is based on your NI contirbutions in tax years April 2018 to March 2020. It pays £74.70 per week (over 25's) for 26 weeks.

Other than that it's Universal Credit and as this is means tested you will need to claim as a couple with your partner. You will receive no help with your mortgage. Using a benefits calculator will tell you if you're entitled to anything. Although if you have no dependant children living with you then you won't be entitled to any UC because of your partners earnings.

Grumpy_chap

How long have you been with your current employer?  If all the 9 years are with one company, you should receive some redundancy.

As Poppy said, it seems likely that the only benefits available will be the nJSA.  However, that is very welcome when it is needed, plus your NI "stamp" is maintained while claiming.  Possibly more value than the nJSA payment is the practical input from the Work Coach service to support you back into work and / or training.  When I have claimed JSA in the past, I have found the Work Coaches to be really helpful and strong support through the process.

Saria

Grumpy_chap said:

How long have you been with your current employer?  If all the 9 years are with one company, you should receive some redundancy.

As Poppy said, it seems likely that the only benefits available will be the nJSA.  However, that is very welcome when it is needed, plus your NI "stamp" is maintained while claiming.  Possibly more value than the nJSA payment is the practical input from the Work Coach service to support you back into work and / or training.  When I have claimed JSA in the past, I have found the Work Coaches to be really helpful and strong support through the process.

I've been with the company for 7 years (as their only employee). I've been on furlough for the last few months as we haven't been getting any work coming in. The business will be put into liquidation (they have no money left) and I don't know how that will affect my redundancy pay and notice pay (if I can even get that being on furlough)? 

calcotti

https://www.gov.uk/redundancy-your-rights/redundancy-pay

Pollycat

And here's a link to the benefit calculators mentioned up-thread:

https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

Saria

Pollycat said:

And here's a link to the benefit calculators mentioned up-thread:

https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

I've tried 3 or 4 different ones and they all say I get nothing (apart from maybe NJSA).
But then when I change the calculator to say my partner has no income either, it still says we wouldn't get any UC... so I don't get how it works? Are you basically screwed if you're out of a job and have no children? 

p00hsticks

Saria said:

Pollycat said:

And here's a link to the benefit calculators mentioned up-thread:

https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

I've tried 3 or 4 different ones and they all say I get nothing (apart from maybe NJSA).
But then when I change the calculator to say my partner has no income either, it still says we wouldn't get any UC... so I don't get how it works? Are you basically screwed if you're out of a job and have no children? 

I think you must be completing the calculator wrong.

calcotti

Saria said:

Pollycat said:

And here's a link to the benefit calculators mentioned up-thread:

https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

I've tried 3 or 4 different ones and they all say I get nothing (apart from maybe NJSA).
But then when I change the calculator to say my partner has no income either, it still says we wouldn't get any UC... so I don't get how it works? Are you basically screwed if you're out of a job and have no children? 

If you were a couple with no children and no income you would be entitled to UC of £596.58/month (provided at least one of you is aged 25) - set to fall by £87/month in October.

poppy12345

Saria said:

Pollycat said:

And here's a link to the benefit calculators mentioned up-thread:

https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

I've tried 3 or 4 different ones and they all say I get nothing (apart from maybe NJSA).
But then when I change the calculator to say my partner has no income either, it still says we wouldn't get any UC... so I don't get how it works? Are you basically screwed if you're out of a job and have no children? 

As you have no dependant children then because of your partners earnings there will be no entitlement to UC. UC is based on earnings received during your monthly assessment period.

Based on your NI contributions then you should be entitled to NsJSA. https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/apply-new-style-jsa

poppy12345

p00hsticks said:

Saria said:

Pollycat said:

And here's a link to the benefit calculators mentioned up-thread:

https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

I've tried 3 or 4 different ones and they all say I get nothing (apart from maybe NJSA).
But then when I change the calculator to say my partner has no income either, it still says we wouldn't get any UC... so I don't get how it works? Are you basically screwed if you're out of a job and have no children? 

I think you must be completing the calculator wrong.

Highly unlikely with the figures given by OP.