Married couples and benefits

AJD73

If you are a married couple do both of you have to go and sign on if you claim benefit or only one of them just do it?

marliepanda

It really depends on the benefit. Your question is too generic for helpful answers.

As a married couple any means tested benefits will include the income of the spouse.

AJD73

I think its JSA they want,both of them are out of work

poppy12345

AJD73 wrote: »

I think its JSA they want,both of them are out of work

Again, we need more info to advice correctly. Have they recently stopped working, if so why? Do they have children, is so how many? If they are out of work what have they been doing for money since finishing work? Do they have savings/capital? Answer all those questions and someone will be able to advice.

AJD73

No kids, out of work for about 5 years been living off savings now they're out of savings

poppy12345

AJD73 wrote: »

No kids, out of work for about 5 years been living off savings now they're out of savings

The first thing they need to do is check if their area is a full Universal Credit area, if it is it's this they will have to claim and not JSA. See this link to check.
http://ucpostcode.entitledto.co.uk/ucdate If their area is a full UC area then they can claim for this online as a couple.

If their area isn't a full UC area then they can claim JSA as a couple.

Silvertabby

I don't know how UC works, but with JSA they'll both have to prove that they are actively seeking work. Any reason why they didn't start job hunting before the money ran out?

Alice_Holt

"If you claim Universal Credit as a couple, both of you will need to accept a Claimant Commitment. You will each have your own Claimant Commitment"
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-your-claimant-commitme/niversal-credit-and-your-claimant-commitment

It's rather more than just signing on (for both JSA & UC).

Sncjw

I would question why they haven!!!8217;t found any work in 5 years.

Forum posters could it not be seen as deprivation of capital to spend the savings and not find work in 5 years to then claim benefits? Just off the back of the comments of not being in work for 5 years and living on savings

marliepanda

Sncjw wrote: »

I would question why they haven!!!8217;t found any work in 5 years.

Forum posters could it not be seen as deprivation of capital to spend the savings and not find work in 5 years to then claim benefits? Just off the back of the comments of not being in work for 5 years and living on savings

No. Not unless they’ve spent hundreds and hundreds of thousands in those 5 years.