In order to pay all my bills etc I need an extra £30 a month...

Tazinijif

Hi,

My partner has been a student for the past three years and my wage plus his student loan has just about carried us through (we have become true moneysavingexperts!) Now he has finished his degree and we have been told that we are eligible for no benefits whatsoever, despite the fact that our bills alone (not including gas or water as we are still waiting for those bills) cost more than I earn!

Job seekers allowance: I earn too much

Income Support: I earn to much

Tax credits: We have no kids and are 23 and 24, not 25.

We feel we have exhausted every avenue and the stress of worrying so much about paying the bills (never mind buying food etc!) is really starting to get to me.

If anyone can help in any way by advising us of anything we have not yet tried I would be extremely grateful!

Tazinijif x

Jowo_2

Is this because he's still classed as a full time student until the autumn and his funding was supposed to cover this period? What's your wage?

Indie_Kid

Is he in his final year?

Loopy_Girl

Can't he get a job?

clairec79

Tried housing benefit/council tax benefit? If they pay part of that bill you may be ok

Tazinijif

Thanks for so many quick replies!

Jowo: It is because of my wage, I earn around £900 a month.

sh1305: No he has completed his degree.

Loopy Girl: He is trying, but unfortunately my wage doesn't cover all of our bills whilst he is applying. It doesn't help that jobs are like gold dust at the moment!

clarec79: Yes we did apply for that, we were told (for a change) that I earn too much.

The galling thing about all this is that if my partner was a year older we could claim Working Tax Credits, which would give us just enough to get by. I don't understand how a 25 year old is more needy than a 24 year old!

Tazinijif x

Indie_Kid

You wouldn't be able to claim WTC unless he was working and /or you were old enough.

karenx

it would be a joint working tax credits claim so therefor both of you would need be to 25 or over

Loopy_Girl

There's nothing at all? No bar work or cleaning? Part time work?

andyandflo

Tazinijif wrote: »

Thanks for so many quick replies!

Jowo: It is because of my wage, I earn around £900 a month.

sh1305: No he has completed his degree.

Loopy Girl: He is trying, but unfortunately my wage doesn't cover all of our bills whilst he is applying. It doesn't help that jobs are like gold dust at the moment!

clarec79: Yes we did apply for that, we were told (for a change) that I earn too much.

The galling thing about all this is that if my partner was a year older we could claim Working Tax Credits, which would give us just enough to get by. I don't understand how a 25 year old is more needy than a 24 year old!

Tazinijif x

Same way Income support for a couple, both over 18 is £102.57 pw and on your 60th birthday it becomes £202.40!!

Tazinijif

sh1305 and karenx: we were told by the jobcentre that as we would make a joint claim and I work if one of us were 25 or over we eould be eligible.

Loopy Girl: He is currently applying for anything and everything going. From jobs in supermarkets and clothes shops to bar work to cleaning to dinner lady. He is getting no callbacks for anything at all.