How much in benefits?

A question about : How much in benefits?

Hi. If you were to be made redundant, how much do you receive in benefits? My wife earns Ј22k, so assume they would take that into account. How much is job seekers allowance or any other benefit I would be entitled to. Having never claimed a benefit before, not sure! Thanks

Best answers:

• Ј60.50 to be exact - aka not nearly enough to live on.
  Erm.....nope it isnt a "joke" figure either - that really is how little it is.
• my understanding is that your wife's income is not taken into account for the first 6 months...after that, it would be (along with savings, etc.)
  as for how little it is - was speaking to a friend in America who was made redundant and whining about the $1100/month he received in unemployment benefits as it was too little to live on...he almost fell over when I gave him the comparable figure here...and yes, I know it's more complicated than just looking at the numbers (i.e. no job = no health insurance in the US generally) but still.
• You're wife's salary is taken into account IMMEDIATELY. My partner was made redundant and gets NO jobseekers allowance as he had not been working continuously for 2 years, therefore had not paid enough NI. Because I have a job, he isn't entitled to any. Had he worked for 2 years, or I didn't work, he would be entitled to Ј60.50 per week. This is how it works:
  1. no longer working but had worked for 2 years or more before claim = Ј60.50 per week in 'Contributions Based Jobseekers Allowance'
  2. no longer working but had not worked for 2 years or more before claim = Ј60.50 per week in 'Income based jobseekers allowance'
  (unless your partner works and earns above a certain amount - which isn't very much either)