Am I entitled to claim jobseekers allowance (or any other benefits)?

[FreddoBaggyMac]

Hi. After being a SAHM for eight years I am trying to return to work now that the youngest of my four DCs is at preschool. DH thinks I may be entitled to claim jobseekers allowance while I'm looking for work, but I think not as he works full time and it will be assessed on his salary (?) Also, I am only looking to go back part time (2 days a week until my youngest DC starts school in September) and wouldn't I need to be looking for full time work to claim any kind of allowance?
I worked full time for approx seven years before having children and I'm wondering if the tax credits I would have accumulated have any relevance? Any help or advice would be most appreciated, none of the government websites seem to give me clear answers!
Many thanks.

I made a claim and it was refused as I did not have any NI credits for the last 2 years. DH was also claiming continutions based JSA at the time, and we have too much in savings for either of us to be eligible for income-based JSA. So I think you would not get it, but I couldn't figure it out either, which is why I made a claim!

Thanks 1stMrsFrugal - it's so confusing! We have no savings so would not fail on that score!

You can either get contribution based JSA if you've paid enough national Insurance in the last 2 years ( so sounds like not you) or income based JSA based on a means - tested assessment of your family as a whole - in which case your dh's salary, savings etc are taken into account. try the benefits calculator on

www.turn2us.org.uk/information__resources/benefits/working_or_looking_for_work/jobseekers_allowance.aspx?page=378

Thanks Slambang, will have a look.

Unless you have worked almost constantly from April 2010 to April 2012 you will not qualify for JSA contributions based. Those are the current relevant income tax years for claims this year from Jan 6th.

Yes Mrs Devere. The govt are gracious enough to help those on carers allowance with their NI contributions seeing as how they're doing a pretty much full time job for less thasn the rate you'd get if you were on JSA (and saving the govt a fortune in health and care bills in the meantime).

Oh Mrs DV