JSA - anyone know about it? When do I have to tell them I am pregnant?

[bohemianbint]

I'm currently claiming JSA and am 9 weeks pregnant. I am still looking but am aware that pregnancy will probably scupper any job applications.

When do I need to tell the job centre? Also, are they going to stop my benefits completely and leave me with nothing? I don't think I'll get income support as DP is working.

Any thoughts?

some info here

you may be eligible to move on to maternity allowance later in your pregnancy. Speak to the Joncentre

Jobcentre not Joncentre

hello,

you can move onto income support 11 weks before your expected date of confinement, but you're expected to continue your jobsearch until then. if you're currently on JSa based on your contributions, you would receive a maximum of 182 days of JSA anyway. I also think you'd move onto maternity allowance.

when was your date of clainm to JSA and when is your EDC? I'll try and work out dates for you

sorry - typos are abysmal - you wouldn't move onto IS as husband working - claim mat allowance after JSA ends

Thanks Persephone! I think I started claiming around the 23rd October and I'm due around the 22nd August. Will I be eligible for mat allowance? It's quite rubbish that I'll actually lose money for having a baby!

That doesn?t look too great from here. If you started claiming JSA contributory on 23.10.07, it would expire 182 days later on 21.04.08. After that date as your husband is working and you are not you would normally be expected to have found a job, or for your husband to support you (not my rules! Sorry!) Your expected date of confinement is 23.08.08, eleven weeks before that is around 08.06.08, so theres a gap in your entitlement between you finishing your JSA and potentially being able to claim other benefits based on your pregnancy.

This is what I?ve dug up on maternity allowance ? I?m not sure if you are going to be able to claim Mat Allowance as you?re going from JSa to a gap to maternity allowance eligible period (11 weeks before your expected date of confinement)

Have a look at this

I would seriously consider trying to do some self employment ? what are your longer term plans after your baby arrives? Do you want to go back into the same area of work you have just left or would you consider a change?

*sorry, note you said 'DP' - not 'husband' as i said - i knwo this can be a PITA

Thanks Persephone, really appreciate all the info.

Longterm, what with being about to have 2 kids to pay for childcare for instead of just the one, I am probably going to have to just rely on freelance self employed work. I'm a copy writer so it's feasible, I just need to pull in the clients. There's no way I can take some poor/average paid job and afford childcare as well so have to think outside the box a bit.

So unless I find some sort of job asap or get seriously promoting myself, I'm going to be penniless? Eek.