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Job Seeker's Allowance Relationship Status

2

Comments

  • reeva wrote: »
    He does work. He earns £24k, but we cannot afford our rent and bills on just his salary alone.

    Yes, I have been working and paying NI for the last 2 tax years.

    Am I classed as single or married?

    As before it is not the last 2 tax years, so have you paid enough during 07-08 and 08-09?

    CBJSA only lasts 6 months, but you will get no further help with your rent or CT.
  • reeva
    reeva Posts: 10 Forumite
    I'm not applying for house or council tax benefit. just JSA. I don't know which JSA I am applying for, I haven't been asked in the online form. Will I get a choice or do "they" decide which one you get?
  • reeva wrote: »
    I'm not applying for house or council tax benefit. just JSA. I don't know which JSA I am applying for, I haven't been asked in the online form. Will I get a choice or do "they" decide which one you get?
    You don't get the choice, it is always CBJSA you will get if you are eligible.
  • Given the income details you have put here, the only type you'll be able to get is JSA cont based; but this is only if you have worked, and paid enough tax in 07-08 and 08-09 as AOTG has already said. This is only payable for 6 months.

    It's only a game
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  • reeva wrote: »
    I'm not applying for house or council tax benefit. just JSA. I don't know which JSA I am applying for, I haven't been asked in the online form. Will I get a choice or do "they" decide which one you get?

    I think the point AOTG was making, is that JSA is only £65.45 a week (I am assuming you are over 25?). And if you can not afford the rent and CT on your partners income of £24k, you may need to look at ways of decreasing your spending as you won't be entitled to claim any form of benefits to help with housing or council tax costs.
  • reeva
    reeva Posts: 10 Forumite
    edited 15 September 2010 at 1:47PM
    Ok I see what you mean. Well if we still can't afford the rent (my partner is paying off a loan which is why we can't afford the rent, council tax and bills on his income) then I will have to get help from the bank of mum and dad or gran and grandad. We have very little spending money as it is, we spend around £20 for our weekly shop and everything else we earn goes on bills (internet, phones, council tax, utilities etc)

    I would also like to add, I don't PLAN on claiming JSA for long, just to tide me over...I know benefits have a stigma attached to it.
    And yes, I have worked and paid NI over the periods you are mentioning.
  • reeva wrote: »
    He earns £24k, but we cannot afford our rent and bills on just his salary alone.
    Why? Many people live on much less and survive.
    My advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.
  • reeva
    reeva Posts: 10 Forumite
    CPJames19 wrote: »
    Why? Many people live on much less and survive.

    Why am I having to explain myself? I just wanted to know if I was classed as single or married.
  • Because you came on the forum for help, did you not?
    My advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.
  • Hammyman
    Hammyman Posts: 9,913 Forumite
    reeva wrote: »
    He does work. He earns £24k, but we cannot afford our rent and bills on just his salary alone.

    Yes, I have been working and paying NI for the last 2 tax years.

    Am I classed as single or married?

    OK, for the purposes of calculating benefits, you are classed as a couple and his income is taken into account. You will get 6 months contributions based JSA if you have sufficient NI contributions then you'll get nothing as he earns too much. Likewise you'll not get HB or CTB.

    The fact there's a loan repayment involved is completely and utterly irrelevent - benefits are not for repaying finance.
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