Partner potentially out-of-work, is it worth it for me to work part time?

Wasn't sure which forum was best to ask this in, so I figured I'd try in this one!  Pardon me if it's totally out of place.  My partner is a UK citizen, I'm here on a spousal visa.

We received some bad news regarding my partner's company recently, news that might mean the loss of his current job.  The day before we got this news, I shopped my CV around to employers in our area--and received a call back today from a retailer who I'd love to work for, for a part-time position.  My husband said that if I were to start working, we as a family wouldn't be able to claim the benefits that come from him being unemployed (jobseeker's allowance, housing, et cetera).   He plans to find work as soon as he can, and I don't think it will take him long.

I've been searching/googling various keywords, and most of the data that has came up indicates that we WOULD be qualified for housing, but deductions might be made depending on different factors...such as how long my hours were, how much I earned, et cetera.  There are two positions available at this company, one that is strictly weekends, and one that is around 20 hours throughout the week.  I believe no deduction is made if I work less than 16 hours a week, if I read the documents properly...In which case, the 'just weekends' shift would most likely qualify.

It is a confusing scenario, one that neither of us have any experience with...  My assumption is that there won't be any negative consequences for me working for a middling amount, part time--the general hope from the government is that people WILL work, right?

  When the main breadwinner loses their job in the UK, does everyone else in the family quit their jobs in order to max out their potential housing benefits?  It just seems wrong, and while the documents confuse me (as most official documents do, haha) I feel like I'm reading that yeah, it's 'okay' for me to work during this time, there won't be any strange punitive consequences to me wanting to return to work while my husband finds a new opportunity.

Alright, tldr I know:  Basically, if my partner loses his job, would it be silly for me to start working part-time?  It seems like such a silly question, I know.  Does anyone have personal experience with this? 

When my MIL was able to work and on benefits (housing, child credit, and others) she could work up to 16 hours before it affected her income, but she is a single parent with a child under 10. My BIL is out on disability and lives with her as well, and if she works it doesnt affect his benefits in any way..

Dont know if this helps or not.

Normally, when someone is out of work, or working part time (>16 hours) both partners need to sign up on jobseekers. Which you can do, but you won't qualify for jobseekers due to not having enough NI payments. I'm not sure how this will affect his claim.

This is something he'll need to discuss with the jobcentre as normal benefit  calculators unless both partners are entitled to benefit.

Normally, when someone is out of work, or working part time (>16 hours) both partners need to sign up on jobseekers. Which you can do, but you won't qualify for jobseekers due to not having enough NI payments. I'm not sure how this will affect his claim.

This is something he'll need to discuss with the jobcentre as normal benefit  calculators unless both partners are entitled to benefit.

Ok, I think I was totally wrong about this. In the off chance that your partner needs to claim jobseekers he will apply as a single person because you, his partner, are subject to immigration control. He ahould qualify for the same benefits he would recieve as a single claiment. All of this info is on the DWP site in their policy documents.

Take the job, you can always quit it if it becomes an issue (which it shouldn't).

Sorry for the long time in between the original post and my response, but thank you both so much for your replies!!  I had a tinkling of an idea that I wouldn't factor into his claims anyway, given that I'm unable to claim any government allowances at this time...why would I limit him?  Either way, as you said, if it's an issue I can always leave.

 Interview is tomorrow, fingers crossed!

If he's been working for a couple of years then he'll be entitled to jobseekers allowance (contribution based).  What you earn will not matter when it comes to this.