Page 1 of Job Seekers Allowance - Advice Required

Any experts in here? I`m looking for some advice if anyone can point me in the right direction.

I have been with my partner, Brian for nearly 12 years (we`re a gay couple). He was in a temp job up until a week before Christmas 2008 and has since been receiving income based job seekers allowance. He just can`t get a job at all through no fault of his own. Call centre work in Glasgow has completely dried up and what jobs do exist require him to be able to speak a foreign language and/or pass a credit check - neither of which are possible! Admittedly, he has never been great at keeping down jobs as he generally temps and has suffered long bouts of stress/depression but at least he does try and will continue to do so.

Anyway, he received a call from the Job Centre today to say he will no longer be entitled to any kind of JSA as I should be supporting him financially!! Now I am aware we are a couple and through the years, it has been my responsibility to pay his mortgage (my name is not on the mortgage), I`ve also been paying his bills, buying him clothes, food, etc as I am in full time permanent employment on just under £19k. Unfortunately we cannot afford to live on my salary alone and we have been getting deeper and deeper in debt through the years. I mean, my one off yearly £800 bonus which I received on Monday was used to pay our £750 mortgage arrears!

The bombshell that he won`t have any income at all has completely knocked me for 6 as I dont see why I should be paying for a property that I dont own. And why should I be paying for old credit card balances which were existing before we even met.

I feel as though I am being punished for being in full time employment - and we honestly do need his JSA even if it is just to occassionally buy food to put on the table or petrol to get me to work - we`re not "spenders" by any means - we just have a lot of collective debt through the years!!

Can anyone point me in the right direction here because we cannot afford to live on just my income alone. Does anyone know what we can do to ensure he has some sort of income no matter how menial.

I really hope someone can point me in the right direction.....otherwise I`m moving out and leaving him to it - I`m sure he`d get some assistance then?

Cheers

GavinGlasgow

Welcome to the real world, Gavin!

I too am on JSA (Contribution -based) and, when it runs out in 3 months, I too will have no income as my wife works more than 24 hours per week. As you state, the system punishes the honest eg those that are actually looking for employment!

You say your partner suffers from bouts of depression/stress? Then why doesn`t he get his doctor to sign him off sick and he will get short term Invalidity Benefit for 6 months (aftr 6 months he will be required to attend a DWP medical interview). I think its current rate is c£70 per week for a single person.

Its not the best solution but it may be your only one!

It`s awful, but I think moving out might be your only option. The benefit rules for JSA are pretty draconian about households with any kind of income - you really can`t have any kind of income at all before it starts affecting the benefit.

If Brian suffers from stress/depression, he needs to get his GP on side to keep the benefits office off his back, although a medical condition could affect his jobseeking chances - it`s a vicious circle, but it`s the way the benefits system has been organised for decades.

J Mark Oates

Hi Mark,

I know where you`re coming from but being signed with stress wont affect his chances of employment that much...not in this day and age when its so common.

Thanks for the tips you guys.

World War 3 broke out last night and I packed my bags LOL!!! They were unpacked at 1am after I`d calmed down.

Brian has told me he will take any job he can get just now.....and I mean anything! In the meantime, he has made a Docs appointment so fingers crossed that goes well.

I appreciate your responses - its good to know I`m not alone!

If you have been paying\contributing to the mortgage & everything else I`d be looking for some form of recognition of that fact by Brian.

All the best & hope it works out satisfactorily for you two.



I consider myself an optimist, albeit an optimist with cynical tendencies and a dark side that Lucifer himself would find a little creepy. (Perhaps you've noticed.) You don't normally associate cynicism with an upbeat pov. But I have exactly that combination and will defend it.

Heartily glad that I don`t have to learn how to spell Chiwetel Ejiofor.


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