Income based Job Seekers Allowance - are we eligible??

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dh is an actor, had a good year last year, but has now not worked for 6 months.
My income is 30K, that covers our mortgage,household bills, pays for the running of the car (which I need for work) and leaves us 200 per month for food, childcare and everything else.
I am due to go on maternity leave at the start of Dec so our income will drop significantly.

Apparently dh is not eligible for contribution- based jobseekers allowance as self-employed people like him don't pay the right NI contributions.
I've got a feeling that even though we are completely stretched, because I earn 30K, we won't be eligible for income based JSA.
If anyone knows about this sort of thing, or can give me advice about any help we might be entitled to, I'd be grateful.
thankyou

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If your dh is out of work he can "sign on" income based JSA,but he won't get any money because you earn to much.He would get his NI paid which is needed for your pension.The only thing with him signing on he would have to prove he is looking for work.
Not sure if you would get child tax credits,you would need to check them yourself.(entitledto.co.uk)You wouldn't get childcare help while your dh is out of work.
HTH

Not if your income is that high, no, because JSA applications - like all means-tested benefits applications - are joint if the applicant is married or living with a partner in a domestic situation.

And job seekers need to consider all work, not just acting.

thanks everyone.

dilemma - no need to apologise! I appreciate that my income is nothing to complain about- we just have very high mortgage repayments so once that is out we're left strapped. We're spending 35 quid a week on food and are not going out socially/buying clothes/spending ANYTHING extra.
I've been looking at moneysavingexpert.com to make sure we're getting the best deal on bills etc but to be honest there seems to be little we can cut back on.
Our flat was on the market for the last 6 months as we live in a fairly expensive area and planned to sell and move to somewhere less pricey - the idea being that mortgage repayments would be more realistic, and we'd free up some capital. But no one is buying around here - both estate agents we were with closed their branches as it is so so quiet. And now that our baby is due in 3 months, we decided to take the flat off the market so we're not trying to deal with a house move at the same time as a newborn... I am feeling stressed enough without that

Sorry, I didn't make it clear - dh has always looked for other work (mainly temping) between acting jobs, and is certainly doing that now. He also has no problems demonstrating that he is actively looking for work - he has an agent and is going up for all castings available, in terms of the acting work. that is the shitty nature of being an actor - he has always been a 'working actor' - he is good enough - but being good at what you do does not mean you get work. It means you get castings, but not necessarily work.

He found a telesales job last week, but in the end didn't take it because we would've been about 30pounds a week better off, after childcare costs. and after travel costs, there probably wouldn't be much difference.
And the hours didn't offer any flexibility at all, which would've meant making himself completely unavailably for acting castings, which he is loathe to do because the acting is POTENTIALLY a much much better earner. As well as being his career..

I'm sorry, maybe there are no solutions really other than for him to give up acting, at least temporarily, and find other work, until I get back to work from mat leave and hopefully we save money from a house move.
It is just so overwhelming.
I guess I had hoped we could get some financial help from somewhere that could enable him not to put his career in the jeopardy that taking such a long break would mean.
argh.

dilemma - I meant - you weren't harsh

Unfortunately, benefits exist not to help people to stay in their careers but to keep them from starving and becoming homeless.

Since you will not have childcare issues whilst you are on maternity leave, might it be possible for him to take up seasonal work at night or weekends and thus be available for castings and the like during the day?

The coming holidays and not having to make childcare arrangements would be an ideal time for him to take on part-time seasonal work that leaves space for auditions and suc.

Many places like Royal Mail are already beginning interviews and training for casual staff during the holidays. The pay is good and the hours flexible - DH and I have done casual work for them for extra income and our experiences have been positive so far.

Also, how about joining the Ebay challenge thread on here?

People are selling and some have managed to earn an extra couple thousand pounds even during the pre-holiday season!

Thanks expat.

We're both clueless when it comes to benefits as we've not been in a position where we've had to think about this before. But of course you're right, just because the choices we have now aren't the choices we want, doesn't mean we don't have choices..

I'll get him to look into those ideas. We're already making an ebay pile - idea being that all money made from that goes towards stuff we need for the new bub - didn't know there was a challenge thread - perfect timing?!

I think to be honest I am just terrified about the new baby and all that brings with it, if I wasn't pregnant, I would just take on more hours, and be ok knowing that the mortgage and bills are covered by my salary.
But you're right, he can more easily get work when I'm at home and childcare won't be a problem. And I WILL be able to cope fine with both bubs.

i'm pregnant with our third and, like many, we are scraping by.

but am doing another boot sale next week and have sold on Gumtree a few bits and bobs and picked up some good stuff on Freecycle so it'll all shake out.

when the Xmas topic starts on Wednesday there will loads of ideas on how to maximise funds and resources.

also if you search in chat for 'boot sales' there are many excellent tips on threads to really boost the profits if you chose to clear some clutter (good if you're planning to move soon, too) in this way.

there's even plenty of Xmas banter around rigt now in chat (much to some MNer's chargin!).

am due on Halloween but am also looking to see where i might be able to pick up a few hours of seasonal work here and there around DH's shifts or maybe some delivery work so i can take the kids along for the ride.

DH loves dogs but we don't have one because we are renting so he's found some extra money walking dogs in the holidays when normal pet sitters and walkers like to take a holiday but owners till want their pet walked or have to work.

a lot of folks may be wanting to travel over the holidays but not kennel their pet so some temporary pet sitting may be a possibility.