couple claiming jsa and income support?

[livbaybee1]

Hia all I'm currently a carer for a family member and get carers allowance for it (£55.55 a week) and also get income support of around £27 a week (because I'm a carer) , I'm 26 weeks pregnant and I've been told after you are 29 weeks pregnant you can claim income support (a higher rate to what I'm on currently). I live with my boyfriend in a private rented flat and we get some help with housing benefit for this, my boyfriend lost his job 4 months ago and is currently on job seekers allowance (£53 a week). As the more heavily pregnant I become I will have to come off carers as I won't be able to do the caring being heavley pregnant, nd I was wondering would I be able to claim income support after I come off carers? If so would it be the couple rate of income support as I live with my boyfriend ,or a lower rate? and would my boyfriend still get his jsa or would one benefit have to stop or be lowered? Anyone reading this on income support and there partner on jsa? Thanks x

 

[poobump]

We were both gettig JSA until I became 29 weeks pregnant, I went on income support and my partner stayed on JSA but thats only because we didn't live together at the time, we were on the look out for a house. we moved in together when i was 38 weeks pregnant and he joined my claim of income support. you could either join his JSA and be exempt from looking for work, or he joins your IS but he can only be joined until the baby turns 15 weeks old, then you both have to transfer on to JSA, the claim of JSA at baby being 15 weeks will be in his name as you will be exempt from seeking work if you're going to be the main care giver. my son is 15 weeks this week and apparently my IS ends on the 6th (paid up to the 5th) so my partner then has to contact JSA to make a new claim but with me exempt from seeking work.. it's really confusing!! I'd personally recommend he join yours, because if he adds you to his JSA, he has to actively be seeking work, even if the baby is 2 days old, with no sleep whats so ever etc... give him chance to spend time with you both as well as properly look for a job he wants and not one hes forced to take...

 

[poobump]

We were both gettig JSA until I became 29 weeks pregnant, I went on income support and my partner stayed on JSA but thats only because we didn't live together at the time, we were on the look out for a house. we moved in together when i was 38 weeks pregnant and he joined my claim of income support. you could either join his JSA and be exempt from looking for work, or he joins your IS but he can only be joined until the baby turns 15 weeks old, then you both have to transfer on to JSA, the claim of JSA at baby being 15 weeks will be in his name as you will be exempt from seeking work if you're going to be the main care giver. my son is 15 weeks this week and apparently my IS ends on the 6th (paid up to the 5th) so my partner then has to contact JSA to make a new claim but with me exempt from seeking work.. it's really confusing!! I'd personally recommend he join yours, because if he adds you to his JSA, he has to actively be seeking work, even if the baby is 2 days old, with no sleep whats so ever etc... give him chance to spend time with you both as well as properly look for a job he wants and not one hes forced to take...

 

[livbaybee1]

Hia thanks so much for your reply ,so basically i could go onto his jsa as a couple, or he could come off jsa ,and come onto my income support as a couple? if he did come onto my income support, he could only stay on it until baby is 15 weeks old ? (which would be fine) also would he still also have to sign on every week or two at the job centre if hes on my income support or would he be classed as not looking for work ? would the job centre be ok with him coming off jsa completely and coming onto my income support?
i emailed the carers website and a lady emailed me back and said basically the same as you that we would either have to do a joint income or joint jsa, and that i would still also get my carers allowance on top of the joint jsa or income claim money. we will be moving in together in the next couple of weeks so need to know for sure which is best, soo confusing haha thanks for your help though you been much help x

 

[louisechippy]

if he came onto you is claim then he wouldnt have to sign on once a fortnight until the claim switches back over to jsa HTH xx

 

[livbaybee1]

thankyou, will have to sort it out x