Need help with a failed income support claim.

briggzy01

Hi, my girlfriend has recently been kicked out of home and my mother and father have given her a room at our house. She is 16 years old, in full time education and unemployed, she has tried working but doesnt have time with college to work and keep up the grades that she needs to pass the course. I am in full time work but still cannot afford to pay for her board/food/bus fayres/clothes etc. We went to the jobcentre to apply for income support but were turned away on the basis that my girlfriend is 'living with her her partner who works 40 hours a week'. Although i dont see it that way, i see it that she is living with my parents because we sleep in seperate rooms and i do not financially support her.

Without some kind of contribution to the costs of keeping her, my parents cannot afford to keep her and she will be left homeless.
Is it correct that she was denied income support?
Does anybody know of any other kind of financial support which would be available to her?

I highly appreciate any positive feedback, Thank You, Jason

seven-day-weekend

Income Support is a means-tested Benefit, therefore they will take your income into consideration.

If she is living in the same house as her boyfriend, they will deem it that you are living together as husband and wife and your wages will be assessed as well.

If they are over the threshold you will be expected to keep her as you would if she was your wife.

Oldernotwiser

Does she get EMA?

Her parents should no longer be claiming child benefit etc for her so I wonder whether your parents would be able to claim this - I know it can be done when a 16 year old lives with another relative.

The vast majority of students do some part time work so she shouldn't discount this. I'm sure she's not studying every evening and all weekend.

bestpud

I agree, your parents need to look into child benefit for her but it will be difficult if her parents won't play ball. They should not be clamining it but it is easier if they are prepared to write and say she is staying with your family now and it is permanent.

Will they do that, do you think?

Has she asked at her college, or Connexions?

There is benefits for young people in this situation but it is not given lightly. She may be better off looking into EMA, as onw said.

I have to agree it is possible for young people to work weekends and study - my daughter does. It may not be what your girlfriend wants but needs must sometimes.

Good luck with it all.

bestpud

Sorry this is OT:

ONW - you've racked up over 50 posts in a day!!! :eek:

Congrats again on the 10,000 posts! :beer: :j

Oldernotwiser

bestpud wrote: »

Sorry this is OT:

ONW - you've racked up over 50 posts in a day!!! :eek:

Congrats again on the 10,000 posts! :beer: :j

No wonder the house is such a tip!

[Deleted User]

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

No wonder the house is such a tip!

I`m sure its not :eek:
But can i add my congrats for your 10,000 post,well done and thanks for all the advice you provide.

dookar

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Income Support is a means-tested Benefit, therefore they will take your income into consideration.

If she is living in the same house as her boyfriend, they will deem it that you are living together as husband and wife and your wages will be assessed as well.

If they are over the threshold you will be expected to keep her as you would if she was your wife.

But it depends on the nature of the relationship. Are they maintaining a household or are the OP's parents simply putting his girlfriend up in a time of need?

A claim should not have been refused, and the girlfriend is entitled to a fully appealable LTAHAW decision, imo

briggzy01

Thank you for all of your replies everybody, it has been a big help.

But it depends on the nature of the relationship. Are they maintaining a household or are the OP's parents simply putting his girlfriend up in a time of need?

A claim should not have been refused, and the girlfriend is entitled to a fully appealable LTAHAW decision, imo

My parents are putting her up in a time of need, she has been kicked out of home and she had no choice about the matter. My parents pay the mortgage and the rest of the bills. However the 'gentleman' at the jobcentre told me that is was my responsibility to keep her like it would be a husband's responsibility to keep his wife if she was in the same situation. He didnt seem to listen to my point of view as soon as i told him that i worked.

I also received a print out from the chap which says that my girlfriend is 'living with her boyfriend' which in my opinion is technically incorrect as she is living in my parents house, not my own house (as i dont have one)

I dont agree with the fact that i am 19 years old and the government expects me to support a 16 year old college student just because we live under the same roof.

How can i go about appealing against the decision from the man at the jobcentre?

ThanK You, Jason

alwaysonthego_2

briggzy01 wrote: »

Thank you for all of your replies everybody, it has been a big help.




I also received a print out from the chap which says that my girlfriend is 'living with her boyfriend' which in my opinion is technically incorrect as she is living in my parents house, not my own house (as i dont have one)

I dont agree with the fact that i am 19 years old and the government expects me to support a 16 year old college student just because we live under the same roof.
ThanK You, Jason

Although it is your parent's house you are still living together as husband and wife and it does not matter how old you both are or whether you are sharing the same bedroom. You should look at other suggestions such as getting your parents to claim CB and possible CTC and her claiming EMA.

foi1983

briggzy01 wrote: »

She is 16 years old, in full time education and unemployed, she has tried working but doesnt have time with college to work and keep up the grades that she needs to pass the course. .

I don't see why she cannot get a job? When I was in college 6 years ago, I did 4 A-levels and also worked 20 hours a week at woolworths and also did temping work with even more hours in the holidays. I was still able to obtain good grades and I also had a boyfriend. It may be a little hard work but it is not impossible.

If she does a few hours in the evening a couple of days a week and one day on the weekend, she will make quite a bit of money.