Need help please...

Tazinijif

jules888: We are waiting until our current contract runs out next month, we figured we would get a far better deal by bartering with them over renewing a contract. We hope to get it for nearer £15 :0)

podperson

Have you tried applying for working tax credits? My partner doesn't work (he is currently a mature student but not sure if that makes a difference) and we still get it just off my income. Also worth applying to the council for any reduction in council tax due to low income. With Virgin Media if the contract is due to run out next month then worth trying them now and saying you are planning ahead and looking into moving, they are one of the best companies I have found for reducing bills on the threat of moving and if you kick up a fuss they might reduce straight away.
Has your partner tried going round all the pubs/bars in your area? These tend to be the best bet for just walking in and picking up a job straight away, sure it's not ideal but if he can get a few nights a week will keep you afloat for now and still let him look for something he wants to do.
Good luck with it x

petebates26

I'm pretty sure you're not right about the job seekers allowance - it shouldn't have anything to do with your income.......

Have you tried applying for it, or are you just assuming?

Definitely worth a phone call or an appointment, I'd say!

Tazinijif

podperson: We can't get working tax credits as we are both under 25 and have no kids. The council won't give us a reduction, again they say I earn too much. I will try Virgin Media tonight though, since everyone thinks I won't lose out! Pubs, clubs, bars, cafes, restaurants, office buildings, warehouses, you name it he has gone in and given them a CV. Literally nobody is hiring at the moment!

Benefits are a luck out I'm afraid, I posted on the benefit board initially and was told that I am living in a mugh to large, much too expensive and luxurious house way beyond my means (I thought 500 sq ft was pretty small and am not sure why they think it is luxurious, they must have missed the cracked, damp walls etc when they visited it... ) and should just move to somewhere cheaper (obvicously the money for the deposit will just fall off a tree) so I think benefits are a lost cause, or someone there would have been able to help with benefits advice rather than just telling me that my partner is "disgusting" because "students get funded for 3 yearsto sit on the dole".

Nottoobadyet

Good greif sorry you had a problem on the other boards. Im still quite confused about the JSA thing - have you applied and been turned down or are you taking this from people on the benifits board? As far as I know, JSA isnt means tested.

fatbelly

dancingfairy wrote: »

With regards to JSA your partner may not be eligble for contribution based as they may not have paid enough NI contributions but you should be able to get the income assessed version? (I'm not sure what the hosuehold income has to be to qualify for this though).

Under £102.75 per week

tallyhoh

JSA is means tested unless you have paid enough national insurance stamps, as he's just finished uni thats probably not the case. HOWEVER, you should still make a formal application if only to have NI paid. Likewise you should also make an application for rent/council tax rebate.

fatbelly

Nottoobadyet wrote: »

JSA isnt means tested.

Income based JSA is means tested

Contribution based JSA isn't

Tazinijif - you're not going to get help from the benefits system. So you need to reduce the paymnets to your creditors, either by doing a debt management plan (CCCS, Payplan etc) or chucking it all into a Debt Relief Order.

d3mon4ngel

petebates26 wrote: »

I'm pretty sure you're not right about the job seekers allowance - it shouldn't have anything to do with your income.......

Have you tried applying for it, or are you just assuming?

Definitely worth a phone call or an appointment, I'd say!

JSA does take into account your partners income. I was in a similar situation to the OP several years ago, and it is frustrating and upsetting. JSA will only pay your NI contributions if your partner earns more than whatever their limit currently is.

(( HUGS )) for you Taz

SusieT

Do you have a 2 bedroom house so your partner be a lodger? That may help get some benefits for you. Otherwise I hope some work comes up soon, agencies are a good idea especially for temp work for someone who is prepared to do pretty much anything.