Many problems with trying to get JSA!

Shinystar

Hi, firstly I hope this is in the right place.

I am posting on here because I am facing problems getting any job seekers allowance and am at my wits end.

Basically, I am currently working as a supply teacher, but as of yet have not had any work over the 16 hour limit and have currently earned the grand total of £25! (With a little bit more money due to come in next week for some work I did last week).

Due to this I went to sign on at the job centre at the beginning of September for income based JSA. However, I got a letter in the post telling me that I'm not entitled to any payments as I do not have enough class 1 national insurance contributions. I asked my advisor about this and she seemed to think that this decision had been made due to the fact that the person I share my flat with does work and there's no way to prove that we aren't a couple. She said I would have to ring up the main job seeker office and explain that we are not a couple and that one of us looking for alternative accommodation!

Now, to be honest, as someone without a stable income I cannot afford to look for (and pay for) a one bed flat what with bills and everything, especially as it might take around 2 months for any benefit payments to come through. What am I supposed to do for those two months?

As for my housemate, despite working, he probably couldn't afford to live on his own either, unless he were to spend ALL of his monthly income on rent and bills.

Currently, my parents are having to transfer some money into my bank account every month so I can afford to live, but this is not a practical long term solution and I also do not expect my parents to keep 'subbing me'.

I'm not trying to play anyone about, I just want what I'm entitled to so I can afford to pay my rent!

Does anyone know of a way around this problem?

Thanks for your help in advance.

BrettMorganxD

I would suggest asking to speak to the manager of the jobcentre, and maybe getting your roommate to sign something saying you are roommates and not a couple

Shinystar

BrettMorganxD wrote: »

I would suggest asking to speak to the manager of the jobcentre, and maybe getting your roommate to sign something saying you are roommates and not a couple

Thanks, do you know what it means about not having enough class one national insurance contributions? I would have thought that would have been applicable for the contribution based not income based (which is the one I went for). Do you think that it's an issue because my house mate works rather than because of me?

I have not ever paid tax because all of the work I did (like over the summer and stuff) was when I was a student.

Lady_gaga

OP, are you and your "housemate" partners as it sounds like they think you are? do you pay for anything jointly, holiday together etc?

Shinystar

Lady_gaga wrote: »

OP, are you and your "housemate" partners as it sounds like they think you are? do you pay for anything jointly, holiday together etc?

No we don't pay for anything jointly. I mean he pays half the rent and I pay half the rent, but we don't have a joint bank account or anything.

We did go to Canada together over the summer, but that was for a mutual friends wedding so it made sense to travel together. When we were there we just stayed with friends, not in a hotel together or anything.

Mmm, thanks for your help anyway guys. I guess we'll maybe have to look into living separately, or just accept the fact that I can't get any JSA.

skintandscared_2

Your national insurance contributions have nothing to do with your flatmate - they are separate issues. You say you have never paid tax as your work has been as a student - have you paid National Insurance?

Shinystar

skintandscared wrote: »

Your national insurance contributions have nothing to do with your flatmate - they are separate issues. You say you have never paid tax as your work has been as a student - have you paid National Insurance?

Mmmm, I'm not sure. I'm guessing not. I mean I did work when I was at sixth form, but am fairly sure I didn't pay anything then as the amount I was earning was below whatever 'threshold' it is.

And then, like I said I worked over the summer when I was a student (which I guess is when they're looking at seeing as the letter says they're looking at tax year 2009/2010). During that time I might have paid like emergency tax for my first payment, but I filled in a form to stop that from happening. Again, the amount I earned over that six weeks would have been below any thresholds in place.

It all rather complicated (well for me as someone just entering the world of work really), made even more so by the fact that I'm doing supply, so some weeks I may be working and some weeks might not have anything at all!

Lady_gaga

OP, how are you managing to pay half the rent etc at the moment, with next to no earnings and no benefit?

Shinystar

Lady_gaga wrote: »

OP, how are you managing to pay half the rent etc at the moment, with next to no earnings and no benefit?

As I explained in my original post my parents are transferring money into my account to help with living costs. However, it's a not exactly a long term practical solution and it's not something I would expect them to keep doing.

I suppose if it came to it, then I would have to go back to living at home and we'd have to find someone to take my place in the flat which I currently live in.

Obviously I don't really want to do that though. Most of my friends live where I currently do, and the job situation for teachers really isn't any better at the moment near where my parents live either!

Lady_gaga

Then I can't see why you're not putting up more of a fight to get your JSA, if your not a couple.

Oldernotwiser

Whilst the JCP are obviously going to suspect that you and your flat mate are partners, if you are not, it should be possible to convince them of the truth. If you have separate rental agreements, live separately and have separate bedrooms it's perfectly possible to persuade them, which will enable you to claim means tested JSA and LHA at the shared accommodation rate.

What sort of flat lease do you have and do you have any joint financial arrangements?