Help with JSA decline

Alistair1

So I applied for JSA over 5 weeks ago and it has taken until today to get a decision which is that they have declined my application.

It was declined because I live with my girfriend in the same apartment temporarily till january. When I applied I didnt have much knowledge on JSA so I applied for a personal claim, rather than couple as I was unaware that even if we do not share savings you must still apply as a couple. I am annoyed because it has taken almost 6 weeks to tell me this, during which this time Ive had to make all the compulsory visits etc. to the job centre in which no one has told me that I must change my claim and must now make a new couple claim.

I want to know if it is possible to appeal and have the couple claim dated back to my original claim as Ive missed out on 6 weeks and so now am running low on money. The other thing is it is not worth now making a new couple claim now because my girlfriend has a job starting the end of next week so it will be refused.

any suggestions or is this just a dead end?

thanks

[Deleted User]

Given your girl friend has a job, its a dead end. They will view it as your mistake and won't change the original claim.

GlasweJen

was your girlfriend on a single claim too?

how many hours is your gfs new job and at what rate?

there is a small chance you'll be entitled to a small amount of JSA if your gf's job is min wage and only a few hours a week, that aside you may still qualify for help with council tax and rent).

Check entitledto for your entitlement as it varies by area for local housing allowance.

fresian_cow

You can still apply for a time in the past, so reapply. You were attending the jobcentre during that time under your own claim anyway so were showing you were looking for work etc - give it a go, the worst that can happen is that they say no!

Alistair1

was your girlfriend on a single claim too?

how many hours is your gfs new job and at what rate?

there is a small chance you'll be entitled to a small amount of JSA if your gf's job is min wage and only a few hours a week, that aside you may still qualify for help with council tax and rent).

The job is 24 hours a week and will be around minimum wage. She did not have a claim personally because she didnt feel she needed one at the time as she was working for family not a contracted job.

GlasweJen

You will be joint assessed and because your gf works 24 hours a week this will bring in more than the amount a couple get on JSA.

dookar

You don't need to appeal, you need to request a revision to the original decision of no entitlement.

It is not possible to claim a single component of JSA, the decision maker is legally bound to decide entitlement on both components.

Hammyman

deannatrois wrote: »

They will view it as your mistake and won't change the original claim.

..especially as the accompanying instructions on how to complete the application state what is classed as a joint claim.

Alistair1

Well I went to the job centre this morning and showed them the letter and they gave me a new form to fill in (as i did mine online) and guy told me it would be backdated to the 14th october when my original claim was made. He said they just require more information on the person living with me.

Alistair1

..especially as the accompanying instructions on how to complete the application state what is classed as a joint claim.

but when I did it online it wasnt clear. The booklet they gave me to fill in was very clear on what is a joint claim, but it described a person living with you as married or living together as if you were married? But what do they class that as, I dont share money or anything we each buy our own things including food? so I dont consider myself as living as married.

Soubrette

Alistair1 wrote: »

but when I did it online it wasnt clear. The booklet they gave me to fill in was very clear on what is a joint claim, but it described a person living with you as married or living together as if you were married? But what do they class that as, I dont share money or anything we each buy our own things including food? so I dont consider myself as living as married.

What do you do that makes your consider her your girlfriend rather than just her lodger?