Question on means tested JSA in shared house

Mr_Ben

Hi All,

My entitlement to contribution based JSA will shortly expire, so I've been given an application to go onto means tested JSA.

I live in a privately rented house with a friend as a co-tenant. We have a single tenancy agreement but pay rent separately. We share bills but do not support each other in any way.

Part 11 of the JSA application ('Other people who live with you') asks for the income of any other people in 'the household'.

Can anybody with experience confirm if this includes my housemate?

The reason I ask is that I am also in receipt of housing benefit, and when applying included extensive details on my housemates income (including his payslips), only for the advisor to scribble these out as it was technically a 'separate household'.

Many thanks

Mr Ben

HappyMJ

Your housemate is not a part of your household so you have no right to ask for his payslips for your benefit claim. You should be getting half of the rent paid by HB as long as that doesn't exceed the shared room rate of LHA.

Oldernotwiser

Mr_Ben wrote: »

Hi All,

My entitlement to contribution based JSA will shortly expire, so I've been given an application to go onto means tested JSA.

I live in a privately rented house with a friend as a co-tenant. We have a single tenancy agreement but pay rent separately. We share bills but do not support each other in any way.

Part 11 of the JSA application ('Other people who live with you') asks for the income of any other people in 'the household'.

Can anybody with experience confirm if this includes my housemate?

The reason I ask is that I am also in receipt of housing benefit, and when applying included extensive details on my housemates income (including his payslips), only for the advisor to scribble these out as it was technically a 'separate household'.

Many thanks

Mr Ben

You may be fortunate that you were considered to be separate households; you could have been considered to be a couple.

Mr_Ben

HappyMJ wrote: »

Your housemate is not a part of your household so you have no right to ask for his payslips for your benefit claim.

It's this definition of 'household' I'm wondering about. The form asks for details of 'friends' (which he is) but also states 'do not tell us about people who just share a hall or bathroom or toilet with you'. What about a shared front room/kitchen?

Do I have a right to ask for his monthly income if the form requires it?

HappyMJ wrote: »

You should be getting half of the rent paid by HB as long as that doesn't exceed the shared room rate of LHA.

I'm getting just less than half yes (Based on capital at the time of assessment).

Thanks