Refused JSA for non NI Contributions!! I was at Uni for 3 years!!!!

ninky_2

anewman wrote: »

Suppose it depends on their honesty then. It's easy enough to say "well I sleep on the sofa" and I doubt the BA would pursue it for fear of being considered discriminatory.

same goes for cohabiting straight couples. plenty of people lie about their relationship....even leaving clothes in the spare room, or having mail delivered to a different address, in case of a spot check.

Duncombe

Skibum wrote: »

So because ive been honest with my situation i have been refused!

You have been refused because you dont fit the eligability criteria. End of.

If i had moved it with my parents (who have more money then my girlfriend) i would of been fine, however because we want to start a life together i was totally honest and said we were living together. That was my first mistake!

I believe your 'first mistake' was thinking you could afford to live with your girlfriend. Yes, it is nice to live with a partner and to attempt to start a life together, but if your financial situation does not allow for it then other arrangments have to be made. ie, living with your parents, which you have stated would (and still is?) an option.

As others have suggested, the debt-free board will likely help you reduce monthly outgoings. £18k is not a 'bad' wage. Alot of people live on alot less and manage just fine. It is a case of living within your means.

As before, good luck finding a job.

Skibum

Thanks for all your replies to this post. Some of you have had some really helpful advice which i have taken on board. Its comforting to know other people have the same views as me. Some one asked 'do i love her, do i want to be with her?'. Of course i love her. We have been together for 5 years, 3 of which i was at uni so we lived apart. We are finally starting our lives together however its difficult financially straight away, this is life. We have been through worse.
Fingers crossed for an interview...........anywhere!

Voyager2002

Sadly, the advice you have been given is correct. All I can add is my congratulations on your degree class, and my very best wishes for your job search.

real1314

anewman wrote: »

They'd have to prove it though, pretty difficult when they're not allowed to leave concealed surveillance devices and so forth. Pretty easy to convince them you're not a couple. Plus if one's in work they won't be in when they call around to check.

Not that I am advocating benefit fraud, just highlighting the difficulties in burden of proof and evidence.

You clearly have very little experience of Benefit Investigation teams and the way they operate.

anewman

real1314 wrote: »

You clearly have very little experience of Benefit Investigation teams and the way they operate.

I guess so. Can't see them leaving concealed devices and peering in through windows etc though?

Or are you trying to put out one of those TV licensing type scare stories like that they have vans to check if you have a TV - they never have had such technology and the only way they can catch you out is if you drop yourself in it when they knock on the door and ask.

I'll bet benefits investigators are about as toothless as the TV licensing people when it comes down to it, and can only catch people out with cameras in a car showing people going to work when they claim not to be working etc.

mynameisdave

anewman wrote: »

Too old to be employed by McD's, they employ 16 year olds because they can get away with the lower minimum wage rate. One or two restaurants do employ older people or those with disabilities, but they are few and far between.

McDonalds actually pay 16-17 year olds significantly above what they have to pay them - 20% above in fact, and only ~10% below what they have to pay 18-21 year olds.