Benefits advice is impossible to get anymore!!!! jsa joint claim help desperately nee

blondefeathers

I desperately need some benefits advice and no one seems to be able to help.

I was told by the receptionist at my local cab office I would have to make an appointment just to ask a question, And would have to wait at least 2 weeks for said appointment. I tried various helplines to find most of them no longer working, or no one answering.

Please please could someone at least try to help??

My problem is I currently claim ESA income related in the support group, and have a 1 year old so get child tax.

My boyfriend recently lost his job and has now been kicked out of his shared house, so I said he could move in with me and we can see how it goes.

Unfortunately even tho he says he will find another job, I need him to claim jsa until he finds one, and I need to do change of circs for all my bens to let them know he's moving in.

when I went online to fill in a jsa claim form for him, there is a question do you have permission to claim as a couple?. I was going to tick yes, then it dawned on me, would this make them cancel my ESA, and change it to me being a partner on a couple jsa claim?. If so that's not what we'd want as would be less money, and when he gets another job, I would have to claim ESA all over again. Does anyone know what we are meant to do please??

Really would massively appreciate any advice, especially if you have been in the same position. I can't wait 2 weeks for help!.

Londonsu

Yes if you claim income related benefits then you would have to claim as a couple as the income of both partners have to be taken into account, however if your BF had a job he may be entitled to claim contribution based JSA if he paid NI in the qualifying period if that's the case he should be able to claim on his own. But you have to declare what he gets otherwise it could be construed as fraud if they find out. Sorry that's the rules when you claim benefits

Icequeen99

blondefeathers wrote: »

I desperately need some benefits advice and no one seems to be able to help.

I was told by the receptionist at my local cab office I would have to make an appointment just to ask a question, And would have to wait at least 2 weeks for said appointment. I tried various helplines to find most of them no longer working, or no one answering.

Please please could someone at least try to help??

My problem is I currently claim ESA income related in the support group, and have a 1 year old so get child tax.

My boyfriend recently lost his job and has now been kicked out of his shared house, so I said he could move in with me and we can see how it goes.

Unfortunately even tho he says he will find another job, I need him to claim jsa until he finds one, and I need to do change of circs for all my bens to let them know he's moving in.

when I went online to fill in a jsa claim form for him, there is a question do you have permission to claim as a couple?. I was going to tick yes, then it dawned on me, would this make them cancel my ESA, and change it to me being a partner on a couple jsa claim?. If so that's not what we'd want as would be less money, and when he gets another job, I would have to claim ESA all over again. Does anyone know what we are meant to do please??

Really would massively appreciate any advice, especially if you have been in the same position. I can't wait 2 weeks for help!.

You don't really have a choice, yes you will get less money but presumably you will save on having to pay out two sets of bills (or parts of bills). You will need to make a couple claim.

If your boyfriend gets a job, you may not be able to claim ESA if it is income based as his income may be too high. You might need to look into working tax credit depending on income and hours.

As BB says you need to stop your child tax credit claim also and reclaim as a couple.

You will need to inform housing benefit and council tax if you get any support with those, and you will lose your single person discount.

IQ

wildwestfan

I thought the rules for continuing to be able to claim ESA even with a working partner were different for those like the OP in the support group.

Icequeen99

wildwestfan wrote: »

I thought the rules for continuing to be able to claim ESA even with a working partner were different for those like the OP in the support group.

If it is income based it would still take into account his income as far as I am aware.

IQ

pmlindyloo

Since you are on ESA in the support group then it would be better for you to add your boyfriend to your claim rather than apply for JSA as a couple.

If you receive mid rate or high rate DLA then your boyfriend could also claim Carer's Allowance. The amount would be treated as income for the ESA (but you would still receive the Carer's Allowance) plus a Carer's Premium would be added to your ESA. So, in effect, you would receive more money.

blondefeathers

Thank you to everyone for taking the time to reply.

I haven't explained myself very well I think, I know we have to claim as a couple and both incomes need to be taken into account. What I was meaning was, does he have to claim jsa and put me as a partner on the jsa claim, or do I need to call ESA and tell them my partner is moving in and currently has no income do needs to claim jsa as MY partner?.

So realise it's confusing hence why I'm baffled. It says on the cab website to do a better off calculation and see which way is more beneficial as in me claimant or partner, but doesn't say how to tell them erc

pmlindyloo

blondefeathers wrote: »

Thank you to everyone for taking the time to reply.

I haven't explained myself very well I think, I know we have to claim as a couple and both incomes need to be taken into account. What I was meaning was, does he have to claim jsa and put me as a partner on the jsa claim, or do I need to call ESA and tell them my partner is moving in and currently has no income do needs to claim jsa as MY partner?.

So realise it's confusing hence why I'm baffled. It says on the cab website to do a better off calculation and see which way is more beneficial as in me claimant or partner, but doesn't say how to tell them erc

You need to ring ESA and add your boyfriend to your claim.

Notify the council of your change of circumstances as regards HB and CT reduction.

The claim for HB and CT reduction should be in your name as you may receive extra money in the assessment because you are in the support group.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

pmlindyloo wrote: »

The claim for HB and CT reduction should be in your name as you may receive extra money in the assessment because you are in the support group.

It won't matter whose name is first on the HB/CT claim as the claim will be processed on joint circumstances.

pmlindyloo

Housing_Benefit_Officer wrote: »

It won't matter whose name is first on the HB/CT claim as the claim will be processed on joint circumstances.

Thanks.

Are there any circumstances where it does apply then?

Thinking about this info.

http://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/meansTestedBenefitBetterOffClaiming.aspx