Job Centre woes

AngryDog

My gf is currently out of work. She did the online forms etc on the Job Centre website, received a phone call to go in and see them and get her sorted with anything she would be entitled to.

So she goes in at the time they asked her to (she was early as it happened), and was then made to wait for around 45 minutes after her appointment, only to be told she isnt eligable to sign on.

This I thought was a bit odd, as she is 24, was getting income support when she lived in London and was caring for her father, but since moving to another town to live with me, she's not even entitled to the NI contribution. I apparently earn too much for her to be able to sign on. This is stupid. Why should she be penalised for my earnings, and why should I be penalised because I have a reasonably ok paid job. I dont earn anything spectacular, but clearly its to our detriment to life.

I arent after any benefits etc towards housing. It would be nice if they'd allow her to sign on, get her NI paid (which I personally thought should always be the case?) and help her into work. Surely this is what the Job Centre is there to do?

This is annoying, as we cannot set up a bank account for her because the bank want some kind of letter etc from the Job Centre outlining what she is entitled to before they will allow the account to be opened.

Am I wrong?

DCFC79

What kind of JSA did she apply for as theres 2 types, income based and NI contributions based ? how much do you earn ? im sure someone else will be along to offer more advice

AngryDog

I earn £22,000 per annum.

I will find out, but im 95% sure it was NI, based on my earnings.

AngryDog

Thanks Redz. Why couldnt they of told her that rather than wasting her time?

tizhimi

Afraid if she's living with you she most likely get anything, I have been in this situation and they didn't give us a penny! Rubbish.

AngryDog

Its not fair at all really! I am penalised for working. Its almost like I am committing some crime!

Vader123

But you are a couple. Couples share things. Like beds, houses, incomes.

A 22K income for a couple is more than enough to live on if a proper budget is in place.

Sounds like true love if you won't support your gf during her unemployment?!

I am personally glad the government prevent people from claiming who live in a household with a decent income.

Vader

AngryDog

Vader123 wrote: »

But you are a couple. Couples share things. Like beds, houses, incomes.

A 22K income for a couple is more than enough to live on if a proper budget is in place.

Sounds like true love if you won't support your gf during her unemployment?!

I am personally glad the government prevent people from claiming who live in a household with a decent income.

Vader

Thanks for judging me :money: Your assumption that I will not support my gf is ludicrous. Of course I support her! She never asks anything of me, but I ensure she always has money etc. I'd appreciate in future that if you're going to comment on a post of mine, that you do not make assumptions about me.

If you had bothered to read my posts properly, rather than just looking for the bits you can take a pop at, you'd of seen that I arent after claiming benefits etc. I just want the Job Centre to help her get into work! By getting the NI contribution (which obviously I know gets paid to the Government, rather than it paid to her), it would at least enable her to set up a bank account, and also would mean that the Job Centre are assisting her in finding work.

Do you think that this is wrong?

Voyager2002

OP is correct: his partner should be able to sign on and receive 'credits' towards her NI contributions, although she may well not be eligible for any money.

tr82

If she's paid NI credits for the last two years she might be entitled to JSA(Contributory). She won't qualify for JSA(Income Based) because of your earnings. If she qualifies for neither she can still elect to sign on to cover her NI credits and the adviser ought to have told her that ...

Although in my experience most people get outraged at that point ... "why should I f*****g bother to sign on" ... so maybe the adviser chose not to (and I don't blame them either.

AngryDog

Voyager2002 and tr82 - thank you for having the intelligence to actually read my posts

We are both aware that she would only ever qualify for NI credits, and that was the whole reason her to sign on, as well as enable us to get her a bank account (the bank want some proof that she either works or signs on before they'll give her an account!).

We are not, and I cannot stress this enough, are not after any physical money! We just want help for her to get into work and for her to be able to set up a bank account.