New style Jobseeker's Allowance? If you qualify for this, it will be an individual claim because it is based on your contributions. It was called Contribution Based JSA before the name change.
"You will need to have worked as an employee and paid enough National Insurance contributions, usually in the last 2 full tax years before the calendar year in which you make your claim. If you do not have enough they can be topped up with class 1 National Insurance credits that you have received.
If you qualify, you can get new style JSA for up to 182 days. After this your work coach will talk to you about your options.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-j ... -allowance
If you are only claiming Child Benefit at the moment and are now a low income family, you could apply for Universal Credit, which is a low income benefit. That would have to be a joint claim.
https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit
If you are are already claiming other low income benefits (the old legacy benefits that Universal Credit is replacing, see my second link) you might want to take advice from a benefits advisor at the CAB first. Once you are on Universal Credit, you cannot go back to the old legacy benefits.
New style Jobseeker's Allowance is nothing to do with Universal Credit as the former is Contribution Based and the latter is a low income benefit. From the first link I have given-
"You can get new style JSA on its own or at the same time as Universal Credit.
If you claim and are awarded both benefits, the new style JSA you are paid will reduce your Universal Credit payment by the same amount."
Use a benefits calculator to see what you might be able to claim.
https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/AboutYou
