JSA- I'm soon to be signing on but my partner is a student?

becca_4000

Hi there,
I just wondered if someone could help me understand something with regards to JSA and couples.

I'm graduating in the next couple of months and live with my boyfriend, who will still be a full time student for another year.

If I say that I live with him, does that mean they will take into account his loan and therefore not give me the full JSA?

I ask because when I was a student and he was unemployed, there was a lot of confusion. When my boyfriend said he was living with me, they said he would have to repay what he had been given as they didn't realise I was a student and my loan was enough to pay for his rent (apparently!)

I don't want to lie, but at the same time we can't afford to live off his loan, so I may well have to say I live on my own.

If someone could clear that up for me please that would be great

Bamber19

Yes, his income will be taken into account. Telling them anything but the truth is fraud.

becca_4000

eugh how rediculous! His loan doesn't even cover his rent, let alone mine as well. I wonder if they will take that into account

Welshdebtor

It depends what JSA you are entitled to.

Contributory JSA

This type of JSA is paid for the first 6 months of unemployment, if you have paid enough National Insurance contributions in the past two tax years before you claim. You cannot get contributions based JSA if you have only been paying NI contributions for self-employment.
It is not affected by your partners earnings, or savings you or your partner may have. Any earnings you get, or payment at the end of a job is likely to affect the amount of benefit you get.
Any occupational or personal pension you receive over £50 a week will be deducted pound for pound from your JSA.
There is no extra amount paid if you have an adult dependant. But, if, for example, you have children or a partner who is not working full time, or a mortgage you may qualify for Child Tax Credit or income based JSA as well.

Income-based JSA

This benefit is paid after 6 months when contributory JSA runs out or immediately if you have not paid enough contributions to qualify for contributory JSA.
When contributory JSA is not enough for you or your family to live on, income based JSA may also be claimed to top up your income. To get income based JSA you must have less than £16,000 savings and you and your partner have an income below a level set by the government. If you have a partner they must not be working more than 24 hours a week.



Income-based JSA

The way in which the amount of income based JSA is calculated is complicated. It is made up of:

• a personal allowance – for yourself, or for a couple,
• premiums – to take account of disability, age and caring responsibilities
• certain housing costs – usually mortgage interest.

Most income you or your partner already have, including contributory JSA, will be taken away from these allowances to work out the amount you will receive. Savings between £6,000 and £16,000 will reduce your income based JSA.
If you are getting income based JSA you may also be able to claim other benefits automatically such as Child Tax Credit, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, free prescriptions, dental treatment, free school meals etc. Get advice if you need to know more about these benefits.


So it is worth mentioning it, but just because in the past you could support him on your loan,does not mean you can be supported by his.Good luck with both your claim and finding work.

Bogof_Babe

becca_4000 wrote: »

eugh how rediculous! His loan doesn't even cover his rent, let alone mine as well. I wonder if they will take that into account

If you are renting separate accommodation it could be argued that you are not a "couple" i.e. living together as husband and wife. I'd argue the point, even if you both rent rooms in the same house. You are not strictly cohabiting if you each have your own rent agreement.

Edit: Just re-read OP and have to ask, why do you have separate rent agreements yet say you are living together? Or did you just mean that you rent together and pay half the cost each?

flexrider

becca_4000 wrote: »

Hi there,
I just wondered if someone could help me understand something with regards to JSA and couples.

I'm graduating in the next couple of months and live with my boyfriend, who will still be a full time student for another year.

If I say that I live with him, does that mean they will take into account his loan and therefore not give me the full JSA?

I ask because when I was a student and he was unemployed, there was a lot of confusion. When my boyfriend said he was living with me, they said he would have to repay what he had been given as they didn't realise I was a student and my loan was enough to pay for his rent (apparently!)

I don't want to lie, but at the same time we can't afford to live off his loan, so I may well have to say I live on my own.

If someone could clear that up for me please that would be great

Is he part time Student or Full time just wanted to Clarify on that?

Thanks

mummytofour

He should be able to claim the dependents grant as part of his student fiance.

We are in the same situation right now so I understand where you are coming from.

Oldernotwiser

Don't start your career with a conviction for benefit fraud.

dseventy

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Don't start your career with a conviction for benefit fraud.

Indeed, because you will get found out! If not by the authorities, someone else will shop you.

The law says a couple need £102 a week to live on. Divide his income by 52 weeks (as student finance covers the whole year , not term time) and it should be more than that, if its close to that you will get some JSA.

The income does not take into account debts etc.

To say you live anywhere else when you don't is fraud, you will get done, you will get reported.

D70

becca_4000

Thanks for the comments, sorry I'm rarely on this forum!
I went to have my job seekers interview, which was absolutely pointless. My boyfriend had to come with me as we had to put in a joint claim as we are living together, even though he didn't want to claim anything.

Just to clarify, he is a full time student, and we have a room that we share, but the rent is divided by 3 (our flatmate is my boyfriend's brother, which works out at £366 per month each.)

The lady at the job centre said that my application was pointless as I would be lucky to get £1 a week, as they take my boyfriend's loan into account. I also work 13 hours a week doing part time cleaning jobs.

The housing benefit is tricky too- as we live in a shared accomodation, the maximum I could get wouldn't cover all my rent, and I've been told I wouldn't get all of it because of my wages and my boyfriend's loan again.

If I hadn't got these 2 cleaning jobs I would be stuffed, as I would have no JSA and would have to find about £150 a month extra for rent, plus bills and council tax...

And to the person who commented about thinking about signing on before I finished- I'm afraid that's how it is right now!! I have applied for every job going (hence why I have 2 cleaning jobs) but I'm not getting very far.

nannytone_2

if your joint rent is £732 a month for shared accomodation, i would suggest you look around for something more economical.