JSA claim refused, partner working part time

CaptainAwesome

I was due to continue uni in September, unfortunately due to errors in admissions/registry I ended up having to take an unwanted gap year, leaving me with no job and no student loans etc.

I made a claim for JSA September 13th and whilst I was doing so they took a lot of my partners details even though we were not making a joint claim.

She is a full time student and works around 20 hours a week as well. I had to give details of her student loans, payslips etc to the Job Centre.

It's been nearly 6 weeks since I made the claim now and after signing on 3 times I receive a call saying they've looked over all the evidence I've provided and because my partner is earning over £102 a week that I have no right to claim whatsoever. This seems strange because as I said it wasn't a joint claim and her wage alone wouldn't even cover our rent, let alone bills, food etc.

I had no intention of staying on JSA for very long anyway as I hate signing on, it was literally just something to tide me over for a couple of months until I was in full time employment.

Is this normal? Is my partners wage expected to take care of everything, even though it clearly can't stretch?

suburbanwifey

CaptainAwesome wrote: »

I was due to continue uni in September, unfortunately due to errors in admissions/registry I ended up having to take an unwanted gap year, leaving me with no job and no student loans etc.

I made a claim for JSA September 13th and whilst I was doing so they took a lot of my partners details even though we were not making a joint claim.

She is a full time student and works around 20 hours a week as well. I had to give details of her student loans, payslips etc to the Job Centre.

It's been nearly 6 weeks since I made the claim now and after signing on 3 times I receive a call saying they've looked over all the evidence I've provided and because my partner is earning over £102 a week that I have no right to claim whatsoever. This seems strange because as I said it wasn't a joint claim and her wage alone wouldn't even cover our rent, let alone bills, food etc.

I had no intention of staying on JSA for very long anyway as I hate signing on, it was literally just something to tide me over for a couple of months until I was in full time employment.

Is this normal? Is my partners wage expected to take care of everything, even though it clearly can't stretch?

Sadly, yes. As far as the Government is concerned, that amount that she earns is 'more' than ample for the two of you to live on (yeah, ridiculous isn't it) and regardless of making a joint claim or not, you are classed as financially linked by the powers that be, hence you can live off her. She will need to claim help towards rent and council tax, she can do this. Sorry its bad news.

dmg24

suburbanwifey wrote: »

Sadly, yes. As far as the Government is concerned, that amount that she earns is 'more' than ample for the two of you to live on (yeah, ridiculous isn't it) and regardless of making a joint claim or not, you are classed as financially linked by the powers that be, hence you can live off her. She will need to claim help towards rent and council tax, she can do this. Sorry its bad news.

She cannot claim LHA/ CTB as she is a student. The OP can put in a claim, but her income will still be taken into account.

Oldernotwiser

OP, it's not just your GF's earning that are taken into account but her student loan and grant as well. You seem to have been advised correctly.

briggy

As the others have said you have been advised correctly. You may be entitled to some LHA / Council Tax benefit. Make a claim as soon as possible if you haven't already done so

CaptainAwesome

Well they finally got around to officially informing me today, 8 weeks after making the claim. The thing now is, my partner has lost a shift at work meaning she's down to around £85-90 a week, falling short of the £102 limit.

If I were to make a new claim proving this, would I merely get the difference of £10-15 per week?

Also, what's LHA as I've never heard of it before, not sure I'm eligible.

Caz3121

CaptainAwesome wrote: »

Well they finally got around to officially informing me today, 8 weeks after making the claim. The thing now is, my partner has lost a shift at work meaning she's down to around £85-90 a week, falling short of the £102 limit.

If I were to make a new claim proving this, would I merely get the difference of £10-15 per week?

Also, what's LHA as I've never heard of it before, not sure I'm eligible.

As posted earlier it is not just her wages but student funding and loans (they count loans even if they are not taken) so likely still to be over the £102

LHA is local housing allowance (housing benefit for private rentals) You can claim from your council

AnxiousMum

Likely not - my son wasn't eligible for any JSA while living with his girlfriend who was still at uni - and her ONLY income was her student loans! They were living in a houseshare with a total of five residents - and my son had fnished uni but stayed on there to look for work. Not only that, but he was also liable for 75% of the council tax as well due to being the only 'non student' in the house.

So two people, on student loan for one person only, no grants, no bursary, no scholarship, no part time hours - my son wasn't eligible for JSA.

Hammyman

CaptainAwesome wrote: »

It's been nearly 6 weeks since I made the claim now and after signing on 3 times I receive a call saying they've looked over all the evidence I've provided and because my partner is earning over £102 a week that I have no right to claim whatsoever. This seems strange because as I said it wasn't a joint claim and her wage alone wouldn't even cover our rent, let alone bills, food etc.

I had no intention of staying on JSA for very long anyway as I hate signing on, it was literally just something to tide me over for a couple of months until I was in full time employment.

Is this normal? Is my partners wage expected to take care of everything, even though it clearly can't stretch?

You are a couple therefore joint income is taken into account for all income related benefits. And yes, your partners wage is expected to pay for THE ESSENTIALS for the pair of you and is actually more than sufficient bearing in mind the income from the job plus student loans etc.

Hammyman

CaptainAwesome wrote: »

Well they finally got around to officially informing me today, 8 weeks after making the claim. The thing now is, my partner has lost a shift at work meaning she's down to around £85-90 a week, falling short of the £102 limit.

If I were to make a new claim proving this, would I merely get the difference of £10-15 per week?

No because you're still not taking into account her income from student loans, bursaries and grants etc. IT IS ALL INCOME with very few exceptions (DLA for example), not just a wage.