couple - one unemployed, one student - looking for a little advice

kieran1985

hi. sorry if this question has been asked and answered before, but i've done a lot of searching and can't find this exact situation. and our local citizens advice bureau don't respond to emails. it seems difficult to find out which benefits students can claim when they are in a couple.

i am 24 and unemployed, claiming JSA, and my girlfriend is 18 and studying full-time at sixth form college. i get about £47 per week JSA and my girlfriend receives £30 per week EMA. we are looking to move in to a place together, as a couple, renting privately, but we want to know which benefits we can claim.

we have been told by an agency that helps young people with housing issues that we will be entitled to claim housing benefit and JSA/income support (dont know what it would be classed as) as a couple. and also council tax benefit.

we were told we could expect about £90 per week in benefits, and we could have rent paid at the on bedroom LHA rate (seems to be £92.30 per week in our are) is this right? we want to be as sure of things as possible before signing on for a sixth month tenancy and finding out we won't be able to afford it.

thanks a lot for taking the time to read, any advice is greatly appreciated.

AnxiousMum

No idea on housing benefits Kieran -- but before you make a big decision - don't forget other costsof living in your own place as well, heat, electricity, tv licence, telephone - all that stuff will eat in to your money really quickly. Your girflriend should continue to get her £30 per week EMA money (until school ends) - but also she will have a bonus coming soon won't she? (either £100 or £200 if attending class and attaining well?)

Good luck to both of you

GlasweJen

Don't want to sound cheeky but clearly you can't afford this and that's why you want to know about housing benefit. As it is your girlfriend cannot claim benefits as full time students are not allowed them (unless they are disabled or have a child) so all claims will be in your name. Surely you could wait until you have a job (and money) until you move in together? Also how are you going to afford a deposit?

tangletop

It would be worth phoning your local council to see if they have a Welfare Rights department. Our welfare rights team are very helpful, they know what you should be entitled to and can often do the sums for you as well as they have a detailed calculator. If you do end up claiming they'd also have access to your housing benefit application etc (although not necessarily income support/dwp benefits) so can make an accurate assessment of entitlement.

epsilondraconis

It's great that Kieran is trying to determine whether he could afford a place before taking the plunge.

The thing that suprises me is that he is even considering getting a place and trying to get it paid for with benefits. When I was his age 10 years ago, I also moved into my first property; however I made the jump only when I knew I could afford to pay for it myself i.e. when I had a job.

I don't want anyone to think I'm having a go at Kieran, I guess times have just changed and things are different now. Perhaps its more fool me for paying for it myself.

Kieran check out the following link if you haven't already:

http://www.entitledto.co.uk/

kieran1985

i did check out entitledto.co.uk but it doesn't appear to have any options for students.

it may not be the best thing to be embarking upon this without a job or the money to do it independently, but i'm just looking for advice about what the rules are regarding different benefits. it's rather confusing, and different people tend to give different answers.

i just got off the phone with the JSA people. i called and asked for advice about changing my claim to a joint couple claim. i was told that no money would be paid for my girlfriend, because she is in full-time education (and not jobseeking). this is different to what i was told before (not told by the job centre but by the agency that helps young people with housing).

Oldernotwiser

kieran1985 wrote: »

i just got off the phone with the JSA people. i called and asked for advice about changing my claim to a joint couple claim. i was told that no money would be paid for my girlfriend, because she is in full-time education (and not jobseeking). this is different to what i was told before (not told by the job centre but by the agency that helps young people with housing).

The housing people know about housing, the jobcentre know about JSA so take the appropriate advice.

I can't see how you could possible exist on £47 + £30 per week, even if you're getting the rent and council tax paid.

What is your girlfriend planning after sixth form?