Jobseekr's & Rent Allowance + living with a student

white_ferret

Hi,
I've just got notice and will be unemployed in one month time.
I'm living with my boyfriend who is a PhD student and earns 150-200€ weekly.
When I'm applying for JSA will he be considered as a qualified adult?
Will he be treated as a student or as a working person (after all he does earn something). Are we entitled to rent allowance?

I can't find any relevant information (still a bit in shock) and they didn't tell me anything when I called citizensinformation.

needadvi

It all depends on your circumstances. What is your boyfriends source of income? It all sounds so complex really. If he is getting/receiving money from the government as his main source of income then I don't think he will be eligible to be added to your claim as a qualified adult and if he is working for this money, then his income might influence the amount of money welfare will give you!

As for rent allowance, you have to have been renting the place privately for at least six months and must be able to prove that you were able to do this until there was a change in circumstance. I would imagine you would be eligible for rent allowance after they assess you for JA but as I said earlier this is a little complex.

If your bf is working and if he loses his job too then you can both apply for JA and get rent allowance in a straight forward manner.

white_ferret

Thanks for the reply. It is complex I know.

My boyfriend is paid by the college.

We moved in just a week ago (when we could afford that), before that I'd been renting a room without a contract (no bills on my name either). Should I try to get some letter from the previous landlord confirming that I was living there?
And as the current rent is higher than 400€ should I say it's not? Would they refure the rent allowance altogether otherwise or just paid it up to 400€?

white_ferret

needadvi wrote: »

If your bf is working and if he loses his job too then you can both apply for JA and get rent allowance in a straight forward manner.

Haha, that's some way of simplifying things.

needadvi

But then again, since he is going to college he would have to lose his job and stop going to college to apply for JA in his own right because if he is at college he is not unemployed.
Looks like your going to have to move back with your parents or family as I don't think you can get rent allowance unless your living in the same house for six months.

sickle

He should be a qualified adult and you should get a few quid extra on top of your dole if he is earning that little. You will need proof of his income though.
Not too sure about the rent allowance but you should get onto your local CWO to see if you qualify.
In my situation I was earning €180 a week and my partner got about €40 extra on top of his dole for me. Never went down the rent allowance route as our landlord doesn't accept it.

needadvi

You should contact the relevant authorities regarding this issue as it is up to them at the end of the day to make an assessment.

sickle

I was a qualified adult when i was earning so little (ie my boyfriend put me down as a qualified adult on the form and got extra cash, you dont need to be unemployed to be a qualified adult)

http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Publications/SW21/Pages/6DoIgetextrapaymentsforaqualifiedadultandqualifiedchildren.aspx

white_ferret

I've been renting for 4 years now so I think I should be entitled to RA (there won't be any problem with the landlord). Oh, it's all so messy.

Thanks for the link sickle.

I'm still working for the moment, once that's finished I'll pay the authorities a visit. Just hoped someone might have been in such a situation.

needadvi

When you do go about it, will you let us know what they said because I didn't know you could claim for yourself and your bf when he has his own income. There you go, learn something new everyday!

white_ferret

needadvi wrote: »

When you do go about it, will you let us know what they said because I didn't know you could claim for yourself and your bf when he has his own income. There you go, learn something new everyday!

Well, you can claim for yourself even if you have your own income - if you work for less than 3 days a week.
Sure, i'll let know how it's going.

mrsbyrne

OP have you enough PRSI contributions to get Jobseekers Benefit?
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/unemployed_people/jobseekers_benefit.html
If you have you will get 188 euro as long as you were earning more than €300 per week in 2009. you will have your bf as your Qualified Adult, I dont have a Rates of Payment book to hand but i think you will probably get €100 for him.bring his payslips when you make your claim. Actually, bring him! The CWO is the only one who can tell you if you will qaulify for Rent Supplement. You cant do anything until you are actually unemployed.

white_ferret

Yes, I have enough contributions.

One more question: do I apply for Rent Supplement after receiving the decision regarding JSR (and do they pay back) or straight after becoming unemployed?

mrsbyrne

As i said you would have to go to the CWO regarding your eligibilty for Rent Allowance. He/she has the discretion one way or the other.

prettygurrly

ok...speaking as a PhD student...

Your boyfriend will be classed as a student with funding. His funding is not subject to PRSI or PAYE and up to a certain amount (€16000) per year I dont expect him to affect your claim. In fact he might enhance it. Also if he is not on the local authority grant yet then he should apply. you're allowed to earn up €16000 per year as a PhD student and get the LA grant. With you having lost your job and if you're on social for long term then you can apply for a top up grant which will entitle him to an extra 3000 euro. i'd say it will help to get rent allowance if he's on the LA grant as well.
the rate of the normal grant depends where he is in college in relation to where he lives with you. I am over 45km from mine so i get the non adjacent rate which is 3000. So if he was in the same position that would be about 6000 altogether including the top up. also i'm not sure if the non adjacent v adjacent rate matters if one of the couple is unemployed...i would talk to your LA if you want more info, the closing date is soon but they often accept applications later on.