My wife has been working for 2 years as casual labour but has now found herself with less and less work. She has now been finding it extremely difficult to find work seemingly due to the lack of jobs and what many people in our area are blaming on the mass migration of Poles to Nottingham who appear to be taking all the factory/packing type of jobs that my Mrs has been used to doing.

She is on an ILR visa (no question of obtaining citizenship as yet due not having the ability to pass the test) at the moment.

Does anyone have an idea whether she will be eligible for dole or whatever its called nowadays? we simply cannot survive on my wages alone.

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My wife has been working for 2 years as casual labour

What does that actually mean? Has she been paying National Insurance?

If she has paid NI contributions then it is worth enquiring at the Job Centre+ whether her contribution record is sufficient to claim contribution-based JSA.

If she hasn't been paying NI then the answer will clearly be no.

Have you looked into whether you and your wife qualify for Tax Credits? That is Working Tax Credits, and also Child Tax Credit, if there are any children.

yes she has been paying tax and NI.

casual labour as in working when needed - could be full time for 6 weeks in a row or just 1 day a week or not at all, its all down to demand.

i applied for working tax credits last year and was told i earn too much. my income is just over the threshold by a few pounds which meant i wasnt eligible.

Phone the local Job centre who will be able to advise. They use a Call centre who assesses your claim and then if eligible you sign on at the Job Centre.

Its upto £57.50 depending on age a week if you are eligible for the full amount, I would apply as you have nothing to lose.

Even if you have not paid enough N.I she maybe eligible for income based JSA. You can claim either Contribution or income based JSA.

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Even if you have not paid enough N.I she maybe eligible for income based JSA. You can claim either Contribution or income based JSA.

There is no eligibility for income-based JSA if the spouse/partner of the potential claimant works 24 hours per week or more.

OK we will pop down to the office and make a claim when we can.

i was also wondering whether the fact that she is just a resident would make a difference to the outcome.

Do you need to be British or an EU member to qualify for dole? will find out i suppose when we make the claim.

Ring first as you have to go via the Contact Centre. John thanks for clarifying the income based question.

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i was also wondering whether the fact that she is just a resident would make a difference to the outcome.

No, a false passport is enough!!!

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i was also wondering whether the fact that she is just a resident would make a difference to the outcome.

She has ILR and is therefore said to be "settled" in the UK. She is fully entitled to claim anything, assuming of course the qualifying conditions for that particular benefit are met.

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Originally posted by kohsamui:
OK we will pop down to the office and make a claim when we can.

If you do they will just send you to use a phone to ring the call centre. More and more of the work is being done remotely. The first call will just ask for basic information and you are then given a time and date when they will call back again for more details. You need to have details of dates worked, money received etc then - the call will last about 30 minutes and you are then given an appointment at the jobcentre when you have to produce evidence of the above details and have a brief interview with your advisor regarding employment possibilities and what you will be doing to find work. Before you attend they will send a printed version of your phone interview which you have to check and sign and hand in at the face to face interview.

It sounds clear that she won't be eligible for income-based JSA and it will therefore depend on whether she has made enough contributions during the relevant tax period - I think it would be 2004-5(?). Even if she's not entitled to any money she would at least get her NI stamp paid while she is signing on and may be entitled to other benefits.

I assume there are no children as you've not mentioned them.

When Botun got laid off from her job 18 months ago, she tried to sign on, she had been paying tax & NI for almost two years. The contributions they were looking fo were for 3 years earlier, when she wasn't in the country. As mentioned though, if she doesn't qualify for JSA, she will get her basic NI paid.

Paul.

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if she doesn't qualify for JSA, she will get her basic NI paid.

just to clarify even if my wife does not qualify for any benefits she can still have her basic NI paid?

surely this is something all our wife's should do then? or have i misunderstood something?

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Originally posted by A&A:

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if she doesn't qualify for JSA, she will get her basic NI paid.

just to clarify even if my wife does not qualify for any benefits she can still have her basic NI paid?

surely this is something all our wife's should do then? or have i misunderstood something?

Not too sure about that, you may have to of been paying NI first ??

Over to an expert !!

Paul.

I've been wondering about this credit thing (NI)? For most of us, the point of getting such a credit is for pension purposes. It has little effect on benefits.

Is that the same for the newly arrived?

The whole contribution based thing has been watered down over the last 20 years, that it either needs to be done away with (cost of administration) or make it meaningful, and that won't happen, or it wouldn't have been watered down in the first place!

It is, I believe, the only part of the benefit / credit system that isn't means tested and it earns not a penny more than anything else, so I understand?

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quote:
if she doesn't qualify for JSA, she will get her basic NI paid.



just to clarify even if my wife does not qualify for any benefits she can still have her basic NI paid?

can ayone clear this up for me. i don't think my wife is entitled to any benefits. so how about herNI being paid for her???

OK this is the situation as I see it.

18 months NI contributions are required for incapacity / jobseekers.

NO NI required for Income Support.

Simply call the DWP (number on net) and book an appointment at the local jobcentre. The advisers there were great after my illness / disability. It took nearly 3 months to get a penny from them, and I initially had to attend 2 interviews, but all was ok in the end. If she has been paying NI then she's 100% entitled to something.

Original post deleted - I hadn't read Steve's correctly, it souns about right on the basis there are two types of JSA, one contribution based, the other means tested.

When my missus first arrived in Nottingham nearly 3 years ago, you could walk in any agency and get a job the same day, they were crying out for people.

5 months ago after getting made redundant we approached the agencys again, no joy, they are full of czechs and poles, portugeuse and whoever else, work is very scarce at the moment.

She got a job in the local supermarket in the end, and is very happy, best job she has ever had and wouldnt dream of going on an agencys books again,it was Factory work and they treat their workers like dirt anyway, she got finished December 26th last year, no warning just turned up and was told to go home and not come back

2 weeks ago I get an email from an ex gf from Chiang Rai

She's in London doing her Masters degree, can I help with a few things. OK I agree. 1)help her move from a friends house to her rented apartment in London. 2) Help her buy a second hand TV--easy, my mate had one his garage--freebie. 3) Help with buying TV licence--done.

Thing is she had been here less than 2 weeks and has already found a job! OK she can only work 20? hours a week (Student visa) but she's done it!

It just makes me even more annoyed at all of the CHAVS and CHAVETTES who are destined for a life of signing on for the rest of their miserable lives.

I wouldn't have put quite like that...But I know what you mean...

As a nation we've become lazy...The welfare state, was designed as a crutch in times of need...Not as an excuse for the work-shy...

Should be like some other countries...No work for 2 years...no benefits


Nick