Contribution-Based JSA

[Deleted User]

Hi everyone,

I am newly unemployed and living with my partner who works full time and earns £18,000. I am not entitled to Job seekers allowance but I am entitled to contribution-based JSA as far as I am aware. Does anyone know how much this is? Also, would I be entitled to any other benefits? We each pay half the rent, bills etc. and I am struggling with my half at the moment. Might I be entitled to some help? Thank you.

HappyMJ

£67.50 per week. You may be entitled to other benefits such as housing or council tax benefit but on that level of income, if your rent is average (i.e not london), then you may not get much or anything at all.

Your partner will need to support you by paying your half of the rent until you can get a job again. You could give your partner the £67.50 and let them buy everything that you need. You are a couple you should be able to work it out. Do not get into debt with your partner if they are tallying up what you owe then they are not a partner. Leave....

Edit: Just read your previous thread... He earns £18,000 a year that's £280.80 a week into the pot and you put £67.50 into the pot. That's £348.30. Out of that you agree to the weekly expenses the rent, gas, electric, council tax, tv licence, everything else and whatever is left is considered disposable income which a normal couple would split or to agree to keep available for either to use whenever required for the groceries etc. Once your £67.50 stops your partner is expected to support you.

[Deleted User]

Thank you. Although we are partners, we are both very independent so although my bf would definitely help with the bills etc. until I get a job, I (and he) would expect to pay my half back in full. We have only just moved in together, I previously lived at my mum's house after moving back home from university and had a part-time job, though they were no longer able to provide me with any hours so I am searching for a job (desperately). I applied for JSA at the end of December though expect it to take a while to reach my account. I'm hoping to be backdated as my savings are swiftly running out!

Mara69

Deleted_User wrote: »

Thank you. Although we are partners, we are both very independent so although my bf would definitely help with the bills etc. until I get a job, I (and he) would expect to pay my half back in full.

That's not a true partnership. Is he keeping a little notebook in which all your 'debts' are written down? What happens if you go out for a meal? Does he sub you your share?

[Deleted User]

Mara69 wrote: »

That's not a true partnership. Is he keeping a little notebook in which all your 'debts' are written down? What happens if you go out for a meal? Does he sub you your share?

Not at all. We have always been very equal, mostly because I never wanted to be someone who relied on my boyfriend/ husband for money. It's mostly because I, through the years (and probably to my own detriment) have insisted that I pay half, not because he's tight. We aren't married and are in our mid-twenties so I think there are many people in our situation. I wouldn't feel comfortable with him paying my half of the rent/ bills until I found a job, unless I knew I was going to pay him back.

Oldernotwiser

If you have paid the correct NICs you'll be eligible for contributions based JSA for 26 weeks and then switch to means tested. All means tested benefits are based on joint household income.

midnight_express

Deleted_User wrote: »

Not at all. We have always been very equal, mostly because I never wanted to be someone who relied on my boyfriend/ husband for money. It's mostly because I, through the years (and probably to my own detriment) have insisted that I pay half, not because he's tight. We aren't married and are in our mid-twenties so I think there are many people in our situation. I wouldn't feel comfortable with him paying my half of the rent/ bills until I found a job, unless I knew I was going to pay him back.[/QUOTE]

But you feel fine about complete strangers supporting you via their taxes. As you have recently been a student it seems unlikely that you will have paid enough NI in the last two tax years to entitle you to jsa (c). Given the present state of the nation it is unlikely that you will be able to earn enough to support yourself in the near future. I think your best bet would be to return to your Mum before you end up owing a fortune to your "partner".

MrsManda

You need to seriously look at your finances and your relationship and come to an agreement with your partner as it seems at the moment that you are digging yourself a hole.
If you're eligible for contribution based JSA then that's £67.50 a week for 26 weeks as stated by previous posters. It's unlikely you'll get any other benefits due to your household income.

How much is 'your half' of all the bills?
You need to think about how much 'debt' you are going to get into with your partner if you don't find a job in the near future and how likely it is that you'll be able to repay that amount.
It's better to have the discussion now if you want to continue in your relationship rather than discovering in 26 weeks time you don't have any income and finding that money issues ruin your relationship. - These things are always best discussed as soon as possible so you can plan for the worse but hope for the best.

[Deleted User]

midnight_express wrote: »

But you feel fine about complete strangers supporting you via their taxes. As you have recently been a student it seems unlikely that you will have paid enough NI in the last two tax years to entitle you to jsa (c). Given the present state of the nation it is unlikely that you will be able to earn enough to support yourself in the near future. I think your best bet would be to return to your Mum before you end up owing a fortune to your "partner".

With all due respect, I would rather not be on JSA, I have been applying for jobs constantly and will likely take the first one I am offered. I am hoping to be offered a job, even at minimum wage, before my application for JSA even goes through. I was a masters student for a year prior to which I worked three jobs to save for my MSc. I also worked part time during my MSc so I have paid NI in the past 2 years. I am not saying I would not accept help from my partner, I just would expect to pay him back when I have an income.

HappyMJ

Deleted_User wrote: »

With all due respect, I would rather not be on JSA, I have been applying for jobs constantly and will likely take the first one I am offered. I am hoping to be offered a job, even at minimum wage, before my application for JSA even goes through. I was a masters student for a year prior to which I worked three jobs to save for my MSc. I also worked part time during my MSc so I have paid NI in the past 2 years. I am not saying I would not accept help from my partner, I just would expect to pay him back when I have an income.

It may take a very long time to get your dream job. All the time your debt to your "partner" is increasing. What would you do if you decided to have children together? Would you still expect to work to pay your half of the rent?

[Deleted User]

MrsManda wrote: »

How much is 'your half' of all the bills?
You need to think about how much 'debt' you are going to get into with your partner if you don't find a job in the near future and how likely it is that you'll be able to repay that amount.
It's better to have the discussion now if you want to continue in your relationship rather than discovering in 26 weeks time you don't have any income and finding that money issues ruin your relationship. - These things are always best discussed as soon as possible so you can plan for the worse but hope for the best.

My half of the bills and rent amount to a total of £600 a month, including food and everything else. My boyfriend and I had a long-distance relationship for 5 years (me being in Scotland then Wales and him in England) before we decided we wanted to be closer and moved in together. Money issues will not ruin an otherwise wonderful relationship, he has offered me money on several occasions but I am aware of his debts and other outgoings and refuse to accept money unless I can pay it back. So far I have been relying on my savings which are quickly running out so I thought JSA may be an option.