Some benefit help please

qbscotty

Hi

I became unemployed on 31st Dec 2008. I have recently had an operation and I am unable to work for 6-8 weeks. I have tried claiming employment support allowance and I have been told that I am not entitled to any. This is because I was at university during one of the last 3 tax years and therefore I have not paid enough NI contributions. Also my partner who I live with, I have been told that she earns enough money to support the house. If I could have afforded to live off my partners income then why the hell have I been working for the last 2 years??!!

I have been told in no uncertain terms by different people that I am not entitled to anything. I guess for the first time in my life I have experienced the delights of the benefit system firsthand.

Has anyone had the same experiences and is there any advice you could give.

Thanks

dmg24

How much does your partner earn?

qbscotty

nearly £30k

Oldernotwiser

Unfortunately you're confusing the way you live normally with the way you have to live whilst on benefits. £30K would be way over the level for means tested benefits for a couple.

[Deleted User]

Welcome to the world of benefits,I suspect that as I have said before many people who have never relied on benefits and now find themselves out of work are suddenly finding that its not the life of riley they always assumed it to be,and that the system is anything but fair.
Tbh an income of 30k is far more than some(even many)working couples have to manage on.

bestpud

Have a look at some of the other boards and cut your outgoings. If you cannot survive on £30k then there is sure to be a way of cutting down.

If you have debts then the debt free wannabe board is a great place to start.

hippy-chicy

qbscotty wrote: »

nearly £30k

You will definately not qualify for any means tested benefits

The goverment rate set for a couple to live on per week is just under £95.

Oldernotwiser

hippy-chicy wrote: »

You will definately not qualify for any means tested benefits

The goverment rate set for a couple to live on per week is just under £95.

You're forgetting the question of rent and council tax!

jennie09

hippychicy is correct it is app 95 pw you cannot count housing benefit and council tax as it is paid to the authority !! you should try and live on that amount! food, utility bills etc, because it does not go very far.

hippy-chicy

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

You're forgetting the question of rent and council tax!

No I didn't, I was referring to the costs of everyday living e.g food, bills. Not including rent and ctax.

Even so the OP on an income of 30k would not be entitled to help with either.

krisskross

jennie09 wrote: »

hippychicy is correct it is app 95 pw you cannot count housing benefit and council tax as it is paid to the authority !! you should try and live on that amount! food, utility bills etc, because it does not go very far.

I honestly believe i could live fairly comfortably on £95 a week for 2 of us.

food £45
gas and electric £15
water £4
phone and internet £6
contents insurance £5

Food I am sure could be a lot less than this and I still have £20 per week left over for transport, clothes etc.

Not a fortune but certainly not unliveable on, especially as it is really only intended to be short term. I have used my actual figures for utilities. This is for 2 adults, both at home all day. We don't run a car but then I don't think benefits should be at a level that would allow this.