We have been told that due to a big contract being lost our hours might be cut in the near future. At the moment I work 5 days per week, soon it could be 3-4 days per week. Can I claim SW for 1-2 days I'm not working and also would we be means tested. Thanks
You should be able to claim on the basis of "Substantial Loss of Employment", where this is imposed on you by the company and not just personal choice.
Do a search here [broken link removed] for
SUBSTANTIAL LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT for more info.
Whether it is means tested will be determined by your number of stamps paid, just as if you were fully unemployed
As far as I know you have to be working no more than 24hrs to get SW payments. The social welfare week is Wed to Wed and based on 6 days so you will have to be working only 3 days in this space of time. For example, you cannot be working wed thur fri one week and mon tue wed the next they would consider this a 5 days work in one week. If you are on 3 days a week you will get half a weeks unemployment assistance. You will also need to have the correct amount of stamps. I don't think it has anything to do with your contract from work but maybe I'm wrong.