Can I claim jobseekers allowance?

no you will not get Job Seekers coz as you admit if you are looking after your child, how can you be out seeking work. Job Seekers is for those people who are actively seeking employment, you will not be. i really don't know what benefits you can claim as you have made your self unemployed but to be honest it was very irresponsible of you to quit your job with out knowing how you was going to live. you will get housing benefit but this is exactly what really upsets other tax paying workers coz we now have to pay the bill for your bad planning. your attitude is like, oh stuff it ill stop work and let the tax payer foot the bill

It is complex as you have left your employment of your own free will you are not entitled to any benefits at all for several weeks. JSA is contribution based and only for those people available for the job market as such. Your best bet is to talk to the people in Job Centre Plus which now houses the benefits office and see what is available to you at this stage. It is possible that you may have been better off in employment and getting all the extra child care help rather than taking yourself out of work. Your wife may be very busy with her dissertation etc but if you are not careful you could both be out of work in seven months time and on full time benefits as the job market is tough at the moment.