Benefits help needed, I'm confused!

[tigwig]

I'm a childminder (self employed). My OH has been laid off and is awaiting to hear if he can claim JSA. However we have decided he is going to work alongside me and be SE himself but he wont earn anything until we get more children. So do we claim JSA and say he is looking for another job?(because if something did come up in the meantime he would do it) or declare himself as SE from now when we arent earning anything extra? I dont know how it works with tax credits or what to tell them about his employment status? We have 2 children aged 2 and 7. Any advice would be appreciated.

[themas]

If he is actually actively looking for a job (rather than just waiting to see if one falls into his lap) then he should claim JSA. He will have to enter into a jobseekers agreement with the Job Centre. He can then end the JSA if/when he starts his self-employed work with you.

If you are already getting tax credits, you need to tell them he is no longer working, & if he claims JSA tell them that. His JSA may be Contribution Based (which is not means tested) if his NI record is suitable, & tax credits should be told that as well. Then if/when he starts as self-employed tell them that & give an estimate of his likely income for the 12-13 tax year.

If he is not entitled to contribution based JSA then he may not get any, as the alternative (income based JSA) is means tested & your income would be taken into account is working out whether he had any entitlement.

[tigwig]

Thanks themas, I think he will be entitled to the contribution JSA now as he has been employed and paying NI for a few years now. Last time this happened wasnt entitled to either. I spoke to tax credits today so I guess its just a case of waiting to see what will happen and inform them when it does. Hopefully the tax credits will now increase as my earnings arent enough to pay he bills!

[cathfromsaron]

this is just my opinion, but i would go on 'working tax credits do i qualify ... ?' site!

put in the figures as you know them to be, ie. with the current level of income as it stands without extra kids etc ... and see which is higher!