Jobseekers Allowance - Separate claim or Qualified Adult

Apologies if this is a silly question but I have looked on Social and Family Affairs site etc and cannot see a specific answer to this question. I have also tried to get through on phone but no luck.

I am currently getting Jobseekers Allowance. At the time I applied for same my wife was on a career break from her job so she did not figure in my claim in any way.

However, her career break ends in a few days and she has been told that she will not be going back to her old job in the forseeable future. This means that she will have to try and look for some work to tide us over until she does go back to her old job. She is not earning any wage, receiving other benefits and we meet the income conditions etc.

My question is whether she applies for Job Seekers allowance on her own behalf or whether I will have to claim for her as a Qualified Adult. If we knew the answer to this question we can at lest be prepared with appropriate paperwork etc when we join the mile long queue at the SW office.

If she has enough stamps then she should apply for Jobseekers Benefit on her own behalf.

If not you should request that she be added to your claim as a qualified adult.

HTH

Financially, you won't be any better off whether you claim for both of you or your wife claims in her own right (your means-tested payment would be subject to a maximum payment limit so that you don't get more than you would if it were your claim alone).

However, it may be beneficial for your wife to sign in her own right to keep her PRSI contributions/credits up for claims in future years.

She should get a letter from her employer stating she cannot return to work. Take it to SW when applying for JB (in her own right) or QA (of your allowance)
Make sure (as Gipiman has stated) to sign on for credits in her own right if she chooses to be your QA