Tricky Income Support Case

bwals92

Me and my partner both claimed income support during full-time education. Her course has finished and I still have another year to go. For now, the DWP have agreed to keep my partner on income support while she attends workforce interviews.

My partner was actively looking for a job, and has been more-or-less accepted - but she herself has yet to accept. The job itself is low paid, and involves flexible hours. (Between 10 - 30 hours per week).

Here's the tricky part. My income support claim would end if my partner worked more than 24 hours, and is expected to support me (even though it's a low paid job). This would leave us in poverty. She would not be able to support me or herself properly, and we see it as a case of 'better off on benefits'.

My partner doesn't want to be sitting around all day doing nothing - especially after finishing a 3 year course. This means that in order for us to survive and allow me to finish my course, she must find a job between the hours of 20 - 24... (a ridiculous requirement in the current job market whereby the availability of work is already filtered down enough).

Any advice welcome

welshmoneylover

bwals92 wrote: »

Me and my partner both claimed income support during full-time education. Her course has finished and I still have another year to go. For now, the DWP have agreed to keep my partner on income support while she attends workforce interviews.

My partner was actively looking for a job, and has been more-or-less accepted - but she herself has yet to accept. The job itself is low paid, and involves flexible hours. (Between 10 - 30 hours per week).

Here's the tricky part. My income support claim would end if my partner worked more than 24 hours, and is expected to support me (even though it's a low paid job). This would leave us in poverty. She would not be able to support me or herself properly, and we see it as a case of 'better off on benefits'.

My partner doesn't want to be sitting around all day doing nothing - especially after finishing a 3 year course. This means that in order for us to survive and allow me to finish my course, she must find a job between the hours of 20 - 24... (a ridiculous requirement in the current job market whereby the availability of work is already filtered down enough).

Any advice welcome

Do you have children?

How old are you? Do you rent, live with parents, own house?

Well done to your partner for finishing her course, now the reality of life begins

What course/s are you both doing/done?

bwals92

We have no children and don't plan to, I'm 18 and my partner is 20, we rent a one bedroom flat and get housing benefit (which may also end if she enters employment?). I'm currently doing a BTEC Nat Dip L3 in Computing, my partner did L2/L3 Nat dip in Performing Arts.

Thanks for the introduction to reality, although she's definitely not feeling too good about it at the moment