Part Time UB and husband claiming UA?????

Hi there......My husband is about to sign on for Unemployment Assistance (was self-employed). My work hours/weeks have also been cut so at the moment I am claiming Unemployment Benefit for 1 week per month (work 3 weeks, off 1 week).

I am wondering what will happen when (if) my husband gets his allowance? Will my benefit be stopped and will one of us become a dependant adult? How will this work one week per month? I get my forms signed by employer at the moment to state when I am off and when I am working. What will happen then if my husband gets a job - will I have to reapply for my benefit? As my claim is a situation of my job it is likely to be ongoing - for a while anyway. I have tried to get work the weeks I am off but no jobs for one week per month and there are very little jobs out there to apply for that would offer me the opportunity to work full time.

Any advise appreciated!

Your benefit will not be stopped. You should continue to 'sign on' as youa re also getting a credited PRSI contrinbution for that week, that preserves future entitlements. Your husband claims for himself in his own right. Check the criteria for claiming Qualifed Adult Allowances (QAA) in www.welfare.ie; they are dependant of earnings.

Thanks for that Welfarite......I am still confused though. I checked out the rates for a QAA and if you are earning over 203 euro then can't claim for anyone else. My JB is 204 euro (approx) depending on the week. Does this mean that the weeks I get JB my husband will not get anything? Also - is there anywhere that I could get information regarding the weeks I work - I know my income will be taken into account so can I get info on how much I can earn and what affect this will have on husbands payment.

I don't know if husband is going to get anything at all really. (1) he was self-employed (only "an employee" for last 6 months - so this may cause problems). (2) If I am earning too much the weeks I work and this is means tested he might not get anything those weeks and (3) the weeks I get benefit - the two of us can't get a payment. Does this not mean he won't get anything? Am I working this out right?

My weeks at work are now 32 weeks per year since the cut. So although I get an ok weekly pay when I am working on a yearly salary basis I am earning less than 18,000 euro. I would look at getting another job but there aren't any and I love what I do but funding has seen my hours cut to verfy little. We have a lot of expenses including a 200 euro per week mortgage and 100 euro per week maintenance for husbands daughter. Things are beginning to not add up and I am getting worried. Apologies for long post.......

You have me confused now!

There are two issues here: 1. You claiming your husband as a Qualified Adult on YOUR claim. 2. Hubby claiming in his own right on HIS claim.

1. Whether you get paid for him is dependant of what you earn per week. Your JB is not 'earnings' in this respect. It is not HIS payment, rather a portion is paid to you as he is dependant on you.I don't understand your comment about getting 'information regarding the weweeks I work'. From who? And why?

2. I explained in another post about the means test for his situation. This is current means not 2007 or 'as an employee'. He may be ok given the current climate but your earnings will be taken into account remember.

Bottom line is both of you can calim in your own right if you want. Question is whether you are better off financially claiming one or other as QAA. The office should be able to guide you there when the means assessment is done eventually.