Can I claim jobseekers allowance

[Mumoftwinsandasingleton]

I've never been on benefits before, but my maternity allowance runs out in May and I don't really have much of an income otherwise. To put my twins in nursery would cost over £3500. Thankfully my 3 year old can attend pre- school completely free, but the expense of the twins would leave us with less money. I was a teacher pre-3 year old, but set up a small tutoring company when she was 4 months old. This company is still running but I'm struggling to get customers for my employees. There are currently only 20 customers on the books and most wages are going to my employees and not to me. I know there's probably a lot of money I haven't claimed for my business, but I honestly have no idea what to claim if anything. What I want to know is if I'm even eligible to apply for benefits?
Extra information:
My husband earns £35k before taxes
My husband is currently paying for our mortgage and legal costs, and my maternity allowance pays for the food
I have personal savings of over £70k
Husband has savings of only £2k (he's not good at saving)
We never have any money leftover at the end of each month

Please let me know if I'm entitled to any benefits. I'm technically not seeking a job and only want to return once my twins are 3

Go to entitled to website and put the figures in there. I think if you have over 16k in savings tou can't claim anything except disability benefits.

If you have savings of 70k, my personal thoughts are that you should be entitled to nothing.

You need to burn through the £70k first, surely that's what you've saved it for. Benefits are for people who can't work for various reasons outside of their own control not because you fancy being a SAHM. Nursery is expensive so you'll need to look at other options like a Nanny or childminder, going part time or doing supply.

The entitled too website will let you know if you are eligible for any help with childcare but with those savings I doubt it.

https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/eligibility looks like savings don't affect it.

@Mumoftwinsandasingleton as you are not actively seeking work, you are not entitled to Jobseekers Allowance, the clue is in the name.

To claim Jobseekers Allowance you need to be actively looking for work.

You have too much in savings to claim benefits.

I'm genuinely confused that you said you have £70 000 in the bank and your business is owed money yet you want to claim Job Seekers when you're not seeking a job. Wow.
Is this a reverse if not
Check the website www.entitledOP.com
(That's sarcasm btw)

Er, you use your savings to live on!

Why should the tax payer sustain your income instead of your savings?

It's possible you may be entitled to Universal Credit based on your household income but not with £70k of savings. Use the savings to be a SAHM for a year or two.

No you’re not entitled to anything due to your savings. Even if you were to eligible though to claim job seekers you do have to be actively seeking work- and they check- you have to attend meetings, job interviews, training courses, failure to do these things would result in your funds being terminated regardless.

5 minutes ago you wanted to be an assistant headteacher!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/the_staffroom/5026461-can-i-apply-for-an-assistant-head-role?reply=133690927

You’re being shafted by your mother moving in, have an unviable business but £70k in the bank and you want benefits? Have a word with yourself, will you? Which part of your life choices do you think we should be paying for, exactly?

Why do you need benefits if you have £70k in savings? You will have to use that to live on.

Why would you think about claiming benefits when you have £70k savings ?

Also why allow the family to struggle with money when you have that much in the bank? It doesn't make sense.

With £70k in savings you won't get any help

And tbh why should you get uc

And why struggle as a family
If you have such huge savings

Job seekers is for those who are seeking a job. Sounds like you aren't

Were it not for your savings you probably would be.

New style job seekers allowance would be an option if you were employed in the last two tax years (22/23 and 23/24) and you had been paying NI. However as a business owner you may not have. You also as previous posters mentioned need to be a job seeker. People with small businesses and the self employed do claim UC but it is complex and your savings exclude you from income based benefits.

So if you are not eligible for contribution based job seekers I think you have few options outside of winding down your business and finding a paid job. There may be business loans etc you could get or grants but you will need to speak to a business adviser.

You have 70k in savings, you use that. Why should you get JSA of you have no intention of looking for a job. FML.

Funded hours for your twins should kick in at some point depending on when they were born. Don’t forget about tax free childcare but no you would not be entitled to benefits with 70k in savings. If your business is not doing well surely you will have to let go of some staff? Not sure about redundancy costs.

We never have any money leftover at the end of each month

You've got £72k left at the end of each month.

Do you want the JSA to protect your NI record? Do you have enough credits in the last two years to qualify? Will you meet the requirement to look for work?

I think your best bet would be to use maybe half of your savings to help pay for childcare and get back to your teaching career, TBH. Very little point in sitting in your rainy day money when it's pouring.

She doesn’t need to be taking much from her business to protect her NI.

She wants benefits to cover the impact of her life choices.

You have to be available for and actively seeking work. Why can’t you do supply teaching? You would earn more than JSA. I would expect your availability to be tested if you submitted a claim.

I’ve just seen your last line, what do you mean by ‘technically not seeking a job’? If you are not looking for work and are not available for work why do you think you would be entitled to a benefit called Jobseeker’s Allowance? I would advise you to read the eligibility criteria and only apply when you meet it.