I do apologise if there is a more appropriate group to post this question to, but I couldn't find it. What I'd like to know is: would someone automatically qualify for contributions-based JSA upon being made redundant, if they have paid NI for 9+ years?
The information I have read seems unclear, but it looks to me as though if one has a full-time working partner, then contribution-based JSA does not apply and that the only support available is means- tested, income-based JSA. If this is the case, then the simple view of the situation is that JSA is, effectively, always means tested for couples (with the question of whether or not the partner works being the first part of the means test). Is this the case?
Help and advice appreciated. Jim.