Jobseekers allowance while living with student

Satal

I am planning on moving in with my girlfriend next month, she has just finished her university course and I still have another year left to go. Unfortunately with the way the economy is at the moment she is currently unable to get a job (not for lack of trying). So I suggested that she goes to sign up for job seekers allowance to help her pay for he bills.
When she spoke to the people at the job centre, they have said that me still being at university may mean that she wont get job seekers allowance. Unfortunately she doesn't appear to be able to get a definite answer from them about it. I'm going to have to go into the job centre with her at some point to try and clear up what ever is going on.

I was just wondering whether anyone else has encountered anything similar or knows any reason about why she may not be eligible to receive job seekers allowance while I am a student?

Thanks for any information in advance

Satal

Oldernotwiser

Assuming that your GF hasn't paid the appropriate NICs, she won't be eligible for contributions based JSA and will have to apply for means tested. This will be assessed on your Student Loan and Maintenance Grant which is why she may be ineligible.

missdee85

Hello,

I have too been in this position at first i was on contributions based JSA which basically is measured upon your national insurance contributions for this it didn't matter what funding he received or what other money came into the household at all. However after about 13 weeks they switch you onto income based JSA where basically they take into account everything that is coming into your household (even any grants received - my other halfs was used to pay for his tuition so wasn't really an income) after doing this they advised me i was entitled to £14 a week.

As that amount coming in wasn't an income at all based on the fact that it had to paid out we were very lucky to be given a bit extra from the bf's parents. Worst thing is - the jobcentre ask you to provide a spreadsheet of everything coming into and going out of the household so they knew the situation but basically they just look at the bit where money is coming in and to hell with it for all the rest.

Good Luck to you and your other half

Indie_Kid

missdee85 wrote: »

However after about 13 weeks they switch you onto income based JSA

It's 6 months.

Person_one

Has she not worked as a student? I was eligible for CB JSA straight after graduating because I'd paid enough NI through my student jobs. If she has worked, make sure the job centre know about it so they assess her for the right type of JSA.

PasturesNew

If your gf will get nothing, then look at how much it costs to keep her. It'll cost you about £5-7/month in extra water, few quid in electricity if she's in a different room - and her food bill. All the rest you'd be paying to live by yourself.

So, to break even, she needs to find a way to earn about £20-25/week, max, or £3-4/day. Check out the Up Your Income board, there are threads there about ways to earn up to £10/day from various activities that are online and/or fit in with job hunting. Mystery shopping might "only pay" £5, but as she only needs £3-4/day to break even she'd be ahead ... and if that were to go out and eat a burger she'd have been fed for free too. Filling in surveys online, mystery shopping, walk a neighbour's dog, or cut a bit of grass.... if you look at how she can earn, say, £5-10/day while she's looking for work, then it's not costing you anything to keep her.