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Job Seekers Allowance

  • 01-03-2012 11:22am
    #1
    LegacyUser
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,026 ✭✭✭✭


    Hi everyone,

    Apologies first of all for this question - I'm sure its been answered before but I just cannot get my head around state benefits and am finding it really hard to get any information on it. My question is - am I entitled to job seekers allowance if living with my partner?
    We are not married, and he's on ~approx 28k. I have heard other people being refused JSA if they live with their partners, even if they are not married and thus not dependent on them. I would rather not have to depend on my OH and if I am not eligible for JSA then we cannot afford to live where we are currently living. Am I better off saying that I am living with a "friend" or is this considered fraud?
    I know I wont be able to get rent allowance as our landlord wont accept it (who does?!) so getting something to help towards bills would really really help.
    Thanks in advance for all help

    Annie


Comments

  • #2
    Lugh Ildanach
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 522 ✭✭✭Lugh Ildanach


    You cannot say you are living with just a friend, that would indeed be fraud. Cohabiting couples are treated like married couples for the purpose of social welfare.

    Your partner's income will be assessed when you apply for Jobseekers Allowance. On a yearly salary of 28k, then you would retain a Jobseekers Allowance payment of only 25 Euro per week (assuming you don't have any kids). You would however be eligible for various employment and training schemes, depending on how long you have been on the payment, and some of these schemes involve an increase to the rate that you can receive.

    However, if you have been working and have the PRSI contributions for Jobseekers Benefit and you probably shouldn't be considering Jobseekers Allowance. Jobseekers Benefit is not means tested, and you would receive payment of 188 Euro per week.

    You wouldn't get rent supplement with your other half working full-time anyway, so its irrelevant that landlord won't accept this (many landlords do accept it though).


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