Jobseekers and Cohabiting

colly10

I’m living with my girlfriend just over a year. She’s now out of work, I think she’ll get something in the next couple of weeks but she’ll apply for jobseekers in the meantime.

The form asks if she’s cohabiting, does a year living together classify as that. It seems a bit ott to me, I’m not entitled to her tax credits but they’ll penalise us cause we’re living together?

Jesus Shaves

Yes Ye live together so therefore you’re cohabiting

colly10

Jesus Shaves wrote: »

Yes Ye live together so therefore you’re cohabiting

Thanks, is there anywhere that the criteria for how much will be taken off the jobseekers payment or is it at the whim or whoever she deals with?

splinter65

colly10 wrote: »

Thanks, is there anywhere that the criteria for how much will be taken off the jobseekers payment or is it at the whim or whoever she deals with?

No there’s a mathematical calculation based on your income and the makeup of the household.
Do you have children and what is your gross income?
Also, depending on her recent work history she may be entitled to Benefit which is not means tested.
What was she doing in 2016?

Clockwork Owl

JSA means-testing for cohabiting couples is ludicrous. The means of your partner will be taken into account, regardless of whether or not you are married, engaged or financially co-dependent.

JSB is not a means-tested payment, although it is only temporary and eligibility would rely on your girlfriend's tax contributions.

My partner found work just before he exhausted his JSB entitlement but, if he had moved to JSA, he would have lost his full Jobseekers payment due to my means and would have become fully financially dependent on me. It was a ridiculous situation.

splinter65

Clockwork Owl wrote: »

JSA means-testing for cohabiting couples is ludicrous. The means of your partner will be taken into account, regardless of whether or not you are married, engaged or financially co-dependent.

JSB is not a means-tested payment, although it is only temporary and eligibility would rely on your girlfriend's tax contributions.

My partner found work just before he exhausted his JSB entitlement but, if he had moved to JSA, he would have lost his full Jobseekers payment due to my means and would have become fully financially dependent on me. It was a ridiculous situation.

Once you’ve set up home together then you’re codependent .
If you don’t have a job then you’re either financially dependent on the state or financially dependent on your partner.
You can’t be both at the same time.
If you want to be dependent on the state then live apart.
JSA is paid in order to meet the basic day to day needs of the claimant.
If your partner can meet your day to day basic needs then you’ve no entitlement.