Should I be assessed as a couple or not?

charlotte09_2

My boyfriend is on job seekers and they count us as a couple, but we lived in shared accommodation as I and another resident of the house are students, was just wondering out of interest, because I spoke to my welfare adviser at my university felt that a couple generally tends to be a couple living together in their own house as opposed to with a bunch of students.

LittleVoice

I do not see that sharing accommodation with a third person makes any difference to your relationship with your boyfriend and it is that which has the bearing on the JSA claim. Perhaps your welfare adviser could explain why s/he thinks that it is about whether you have independent use of a house. (Though I note you use the phrase "generally tends" rather than being an absolute.)

Tiggergirl

It doesn't matter at all who else is living there. If you are living together as a couple, then you are treated as a couple.

Oldernotwiser

If you're living together, regardless of who else shares the property, your income from earnings, student loan and maintenance grant will be used to assess your BF's claim for means tested benefits.

Sharon87

Are you sharing a bedroom or not? If not, then you wont be classed as a couple. If you are, mostly likely you will be classed as a couple.

SomeBozo

Sharon87 wrote: »

Are you sharing a bedroom or not? If not, then you wont be classed as a couple. If you are, mostly likely you will be classed as a couple.

This is wrong and a common misconception.

Its not the sleeping arrangements (iw how often can my boyfriend stay over?) that they look at, its whether you are couple or not.

Living in the same property, with letters coming to the same address, presumably shopping, cooking at eating together, makes you a couple.

Bozo

charlotte09_2

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

If you're living together, regardless of who else shares the property, your income from earnings, student loan and maintenance grant will be used to assess your BF's claim for means tested benefits.

Darn, thanks, kinda sucks, that's why I was hoping there was a way around it, as I get the most support you can get from grants etc because I come from a very low income family, just not really that fair that the money I am given to survive in university should be used to keep my boyfriend.

bestpud

charlotte09 wrote: »

Darn, thanks, kinda sucks, that's why I was hoping there was a way around it, as I get the most support you can get from grants etc because I come from a very low income family, just not really that fair that the money I am given to survive in university should be used to keep my boyfriend.

Tell him to get a job, any job, and start bringing some money in. Don't let him be choosy about it!