Joint Claim issues

Kirsty2010

I hope someone can help,
I am on my partners claim for IS, i was working 20hrs a week until the end of last year when they let me go due to climate change and couldn't afford me, i was getting £118 a week after ni, which was all taken off our IS bar the £20 your allowed to earn leaving my partner with a few pounds. The jobcentre said i can't get ANY help with work as i'm second on the claim so no grants for clothes or anything at all, and told me there was no point me working unless it was 25hrs+ so i can get working tax credits. But i was wanting to know if i can seperate from his claim so he can keep his IS and dissabillity money and i can work as i don't think it's fair that he will lose all his money because of me and lose his claim when he needs it, and i really want to work while i'm studying a law degree so we can have a bit extra money instead of struggling on IS.

nannytone_2

if you live as a couple, there is no 'your money' and 'his money'
any D L A he receives won't be affected as it isn't means tested.

Kirsty2010

Ok, but would i be able to come off the joint claim though so he can claim alone again?

Indie_Kid

He wouldn't be able to claim alone - you'd probably earn too much working 25 hours per week to claim.

Duncombe

You can't choose to claim as individuals. If you live together as partners your claim has to be a joint one as you are expected to support one another financially.

You mention you are studying for a degree - are you getting any financial support for this?

Kirsty2010

He used to claim alone when he was living with his mum, so i was hoping i could just be removed from it.

It's through the OU so they cover my course fees, which i'm very grateful for.

nannytone_2

he wasnt living with his mother as a 'couple' (or at least i hope he wasnt! lol)

as you are a couple, any means tested benefits HAVE to be claimed jointly, and each other's income will be taken into consideration.

devildog

I guess things have changed now but when o/h made redundant he was told he could either claim as a single person(and whatever I earnt would make no difference to what he got)or to claim as a family whereby anything I earnt would be included in the calculations(two young children at the time)

nannytone_2

thats still the case with contribution based benefits. it's all assessed on contributions and not income. it's never been the case (as far as i know) that you could claim income based benefit whilst a partners income is disregardrd totally.

Indie_Kid

nannytone wrote: »

thats still the case with contribution based benefits. it's all assessed on contributions and not income. it's never been the case (as far as i know) that you could claim income based benefit whilst a partners income is disregardrd totally.

This has always been the case. Income based benefits are based on household income - ie, yours and that of the person you're living with, as if you were living together as man and wife. (including same-sex relationships)

nannytone_2

wasnt that what i said?