Help with confusing benefits, my JSA was rejected because partner is on incapacity

tombooth

Hi,

I'm hoping that someone here can provide me with a bit of advice regarding applying for benefits and what I am entitled to. I have also spoken to the Citizen's Advice Bureau for help but I am unable to get an appointment until the 17th July.

I have just finished university and like many graduates I don't have a job so I decided to sign on to job seekers allowance (JSA). My partner has also just finished university but is in receipt of incapacity benefit (IB) and so does not want to go onto JSA.

When we went to my local job centre to apply for JSA we were told that we must make a joint claim but that my partner could exempt herself from JSA by writing a statement to say why this was the case. This all went ok and I was told my application would be processed and that I must sign on every two weeks as usual.

During my second visit to sign on I asked the advisor when I could expect to start receiving my benefit and at that point I was told that my application was rejected because my partner is on IB and my benefits had to be claimed through her benefit.

Next, we phoned the people at IB and spoke to a very unhelpful lady who really didn't seem to know what she was doing but we eventually managed to convince her to send out (hopefully) the right forms for me to apply under my partner's benefit.

What I would like help with is ensuring I fill in the correct forms as I currently have no money and no income so need to get this sorted out asap!

I would like to apply to get myself on my partner's benefit, I was also told this would then be topped up with income support. I will also need to apply for housing benefit, council tax benefit and for a back payment to when I originally applied for JSA. Also, if there is anything else I can apply for (such as help with energy costs) then I would happily accept any and all help.

Thank you very much,
Tom

Torry_Quine

I think that the reason for the problem is that presumably you would only be eligible for income based JSA as you haven't been working to claim contribution based. This is based on household income ie the incapacity benefit and any savings.

tombooth

Hi,

Not quite sure what you mean by that.. I am 29 (went to uni as a mature student) and before going to university I had worked since the age of 16 so if I understand correctly then I should be eligible for contribution based JSA.

Thanks
Tom

LadyMorticia

tombooth wrote: »

Hi,

Not quite sure what you mean by that.. I am 29 (went to uni as a mature student) and before going to university I had worked since the age of 16 so if I understand correctly then I should be eligible for contribution based JSA.

Thanks
Tom

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that Contributions Based JSA only takes into account the previous two years so if you haven't made enough contributions in the two years prior to your claim, then you're not eligible for Contributions Based.

That's how I understand it though. I'm sure someone will be along to put me in my place soon.

mynameistallulah

LadyMorticia wrote: »

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that Contributions Based JSA only takes into account the previous two years so if you haven't made enough contributions in the two years prior to your claim, then you're not eligible for Contributions Based.

That's how I understand it though. I'm sure someone will be along to put me in my place soon.

You are correct my fair LadyM, CB JSA looks at NI Conts from the previous two tax years prior to this calendar year.

LadyMorticia

mynameistallulah wrote: »

You are correct my fair LadyM, CB JSA looks at NI Conts from the previous two tax years prior to this calendar year.

Thank you. I learn alot from this forum. It's nice that I remember it! :rotfl:

Anubis_2

Your partner needs to get IS topup for you, and claim for HB/CT.

mikey_bach

Your partner on the grounds of Incapacity Benefit can make a claim for Income Support, he will claim for himself and put you on the claim as the partner,
You should get couple rate I.S, couple Disablity Premium, less his IB.

I am taking it you have capital less then 16k, capital between 6k and 16k is taken into account as tariff Income £1 for every £250 in savings.

He will have to make the claim, he does this by ringing the countact centre
Phone: 0800 0 55 66 88
and stating he wants to claim I.S on the grounds of his IB

Torry_Quine

tombooth wrote: »

Hi,

Not quite sure what you mean by that.. I am 29 (went to uni as a mature student) and before going to university I had worked since the age of 16 so if I understand correctly then I should be eligible for contribution based JSA.

Thanks
Tom

Eligibility for contribution based JSA is only based on the last two years of contributions and if you weren't paying contributions while at university then you aren't eligible.

BigAunty

Using the previous advice about Income support, etc, rather than JSA, you can identify your full entitlements on the Turn2us online benefit calculator.

Ellejmorgan

He should be migrated to ESA soon anyway, he would then add you to his claim as a couple, not sure about up until then though..