Girlfriend finished uni, and now 'job seeking'...

Koptor

Right then, my girlfriend has just finished uni and is now in the process of looking for a job around the area I live in, with the intent on moving in with me. Until she gets a job, she wants to start claiming jobseekers allowance, but we've been told something about if we're living together as a couple then they'll assess the income of the household rather than the individual, and she might end up not being entitled to anything? Which would then mean it'd cost too much, meaning she'd have to live at her parents in London whilst trying to find a job in Warwickshire...seems a bit of a pain to me.

Can anyone on here give me a bit of advice with this? I earn approx £20,000 a year if this means anything.

Also, will I lose out with council tax at all, as I am currently claiming single persons discount, but if she moves in unemployed, will this discount still apply or not?

Also, when actually claiming for the jobseekers allowance, how do they know she's living here? As everything is still registered at her parents address. Is there anything that needs to be changed over before going to the job centre or will they be able to advise afterwards/sort it out for me?

Thanks in advance,

Sam

Oldernotwiser

If your girlfriend lives with you and claims means tested JSA she'll be assessed on your income and won't receive anything; you'll also lose your 25% CT discount. If she lives with her parents, you'll keep the discount and she'll get just over £50 per week JSA.

I think you need to bear in mind the travel costs of seeing each other at weekends and the difficulties she'll have with job hunting at a distance.

Koptor

That takes the pee slightly I think...although I can live quite comfortably on my own here, can't really afford to support her too...

Looks like we'll be putting more miles on the cars then.

dmg24

Two people should be able to live very comfortably on £20,000. Perhaps you could look around the forum for moneysaving ideas?

Oldernotwiser

Koptor wrote: »

That takes the pee slightly I think...although I can live quite comfortably on my own here, can't really afford to support her too...

Looks like we'll be putting more miles on the cars then.

And you'll be doing that with free petrol, will you?

trevormax

could your gf get a part time job in say a supermarket or a bar while she looks for the job she wants?

SomeBozo

dmg and ONW, sound advice from both.

Bozo

DCFC79

OP i think your gf should get any job whether its in a call centre or a uspermarket, theres xmas jobs available so have a look for them,

Koptor

dmg24 wrote: »

Two people should be able to live very comfortably on £20,000. Perhaps you could look around the forum for moneysaving ideas?

Right then, my outgoings are as follows...

Mortgage - 171.89
Rent - 224.81
Car - 263.96
Car insurance - 86.24
Gas/elec - 50
Council tax - 87 (inc discount)
Water - 16.76
Pet insurance - 20.78
Mobile phone - 35.00
TV license - 28.50
Life insurance - 8.81
Phone line - 12.50

Total = 1006.25

Take home pay = 1218.16

Doesn't really leave a lot left over for food and petrol does it, and when you factor in the increases in council tax and energy/water bills, I'd like to know how we can both live comfortably! Currently trying to get rid of the car before you suggest that, but trying to sell a car at the moment isn't easy...I personally want it gone but stuck with it.

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

And you'll be doing that with free petrol, will you?

She'll be getting something in every month, that'll go towards it, and we will probably be better off...

trevormax wrote: »

could your gf get a part time job in say a supermarket or a bar while she looks for the job she wants?

DCFC79 wrote: »

OP i think your gf should get any job whether its in a call centre or a uspermarket, theres xmas jobs available so have a look for them,

She'd be happy doing any job to be honest! She's got no interest in doing what she did at uni (Web design). It's just trying to get it though at the moment isn't it, I hear even these kind of jobs are difficult to get.

98jdougl

why have you got both mortgage and rent payments? or am i missing something

Koptor

98jdougl wrote: »

why have you got both mortgage and rent payments? or am i missing something

Sorry forgot to explain, shared ownership house