full time student not entitled to anything in summer if partner on jsa?

caroline83

Hi,
i don't know if anyone could advise me on my situation because even the jobcentre etc don't seem to know the answer.
Basicly i have two children and am a full time student and as most of you prob know, student loans do not cover you over the summer period.
When i was single i claimed income support in the summer period but now my partner is living with me (he recieves jobseekers allowance) i've been told i'm entitled to nothing. This seems strange that a family of four is meant to live off jsa for one person. Does anyone know if i'm entitled to anything? Someone said that i could do a joint claim for jobseekers with my partner but i don't know if it's worth it?

MrsManda

The best advice is to get a job (you should be able to childcare allowance).
Other than that you may be entitled to Parents Learning Allowance, and also maybe income support/council tax benefit. It is always worth applying for everything you can including JSA - I think the rules are different with students with children so you're more likely to get it than students without dependents.
Have a look HERE for advice and application forms for benefits for students

Lokolo

So you've got 3-4 months off and you haven't thought of getting a job...?

Why can't your partner get a job now that you're home to look after the kids?

caroline83

Lokolo wrote: »

So you've got 3-4 months off and you haven't thought of getting a job...?


Why can't your partner get a job now that you're home to look after the kids?

Of course i have thought of getting a job but i only have 2 months off, not 3-4 and as i am ill and have been for months with hyperemisis i have had to have my uni work deadlline extended until 28th august which is why i have decided to focus on getting this done-i am determined to finish my degree.


My partner is looking for work,he has always worked until he was made redundant and will work as soon as he's given a job. I was only asking what help i might be entitled to in the meantime.

mummytofour

Your partner should be claiming for you as an extra adult? I read somewhere that your partner was getting £90ish JSA a week, I think thats the couples amount.

Also contact your uni they should have a sumer hardship fund.

caroline83

thanks, i have just checked that out on jobseeker plus website and couples rate of jsa is £100 a week, since my partner is getting £94 weekly i guess that must include me in his jsa

Fire_Fox

The problem is that student loans are meant to last you 52 weeks, that's why you are entitled to a reduced amount in your final year when you can claim benefits from the June.

magriff

once you have made a joint claim on income based JSA pending where you live your local council may suspend any council tax or give you a % off. also you may get housing benefit but this takes 13 week to process. but as you are a student and your partner is on benefits you may be entitled to this whilst you are at uni/college.

DrFluffy

Contact your uni about the Access to Learning fund.

Dreaming_debtfree_dreams

magriff wrote: »

once you have made a joint claim on income based JSA pending where you live your local council may suspend any council tax or give you a % off. also you may get housing benefit but this takes 13 week to process. but as you are a student and your partner is on benefits you may be entitled to this whilst you are at uni/college.

Housing Benefit can take a while to process but your claim will be backdated to the Monday after you sent in your application. Apply immediately and keep your landlord up to date with what's happening so they know you've got a claim in.

blue_ashleigh

I've just started claiming JSA and got £44.41 per week until 3rd July when my OH's university deem him to be on summer vacation and apparantly the student loan is only meant to cover until that time so I'm getting £100.95 until September when he goes back.
(If that makes sense!?)

It seems that the student loan DOESN'T cover over the summer vacation so you should be able to get more money.

(This is what the job centre and processing department have said... I rang up to check as it seemed strange!)