Please advice me on JSA/SE?

[lupo5]

Due to a very unfortunate circumstances, In the past 2 years both myself and my DH stayed without jobs.(company went bust). Both of us we are actively looking for jobs and it proved to be sooo difficult.After some time,when we used all our savings (two dd's and baby on the way), we are in receipt of couple's JSA .
Today my husband came from his adviser that he declared himself self-employed , which was shocking to me. We did talk about it,I know he doesn't want to be on benefits -who wants it, but I am now left very confused.
We actually argued because this things are so sensitive ,especially now when I am 7 mnths pregnant.
Adviser told him he need to earn min £100/per week and he will be getting every week wtc £67. Is that for both of us or only him? What will happen with me? I am doing re training now so once buba is at least year I can go back to work.
So worried.
Please help me to understand...Thank you so much.

I don't know a huge amount about working tax credits, but I'm pretty sure from posts on here that you need to work a minimum number of hours to qualify.

Just Googled, and yes you do www.gov.uk/working-tax-credit/eligibility

I think your DH has been wrongly advised about only needing to earn £100 pw, because unless he's working for a ridiculously small amount he's not going to come close to 24-30 hours.

Thank you very much. It's very confusing. It also says (on the link you provided) couple with one or more kids at least 24h. Really confusing and very scared how our finances will work out. In a million years I didn't imagine that I will be in a situation like this.

I did roughly this nearly ten years ago as a single parent (i.e. from period out of work straight to self employment).

You have to earn 24hrs a week between you to qualify.

As long as he can find enough work related things to actually DO to make 24 hrs a week, that will be fine. So it can include all work-chasing activity, all admin etc.

You don't have to earn £100pw per week to qualify, but you probably do to ensure your income is sufficient, it sounds as though the adviser has worked out a notional income figure and completed a 'better off calculation based on that' (tax credits, child benefit, any housing benefit and council tax support plus earnings).

It must be scary but it probably no riskier than JSA in the current sanction-happy climate, and you have the chance to work your way up. In 14 months when you can work too, things will improve even more

Thank you sooo much. Very comforting post AOF.
It's really hard but I have to do my best out of this situation. I can't work out all this benefit system and self-employment. There is nothing better then go to work and feel good about yourself.....Thank you one more time.

Any change feels likes a risky leap when your budget is tight.

Good luck

Sorry for late reply. It feels for me as if we are in between rock and a hard place which definitely it's not easy place to be.
I will try to look at it in a positive way-one step at the time to brighter future..I am now waiting for all the letters to come and hopefully everything will be more clear.Thank you.

You're welcome. Good luck

BTW www.entitledto.co.uk/ is a good site.