Benefits when you're a couple

**helen**

Some of you might have already spotted that the article that gets the most comments on TheSite.org is this one:
http://www.thesite.org/homelawandmoney/money/benefitsandtax/jobseekersallowance

And our other JSA articles - particularly the ones about sanctions and other general complications.

A common question or query recently has been about claiming JSA when you're part of a couple. If your partner works more than 24 hours per week, you can't claim. More info here:

https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/eligibility

Here's a recent comment on this issue:

My daughter has been claiming JSA for 6 weeks and not received a penny. She has been told that because her partner (who is on minimum wage) works more than 40hrs a week she is not entitled to any money. Why is this, surely everybody who pays into the system is entitled to some form of JSA.

Just wondered what you guys think about this. :chin:

Former Member

It's not something I know much about, but unless you get some kind of other relief on the partners income (e.g. Pooled personal allowance etc) then I can't see how that's vaguely reasonable. I can see why you'd have to provide hard proof that you're actively job seeking, rather than electing to live off single income.

Former Member

But the single income is almost double what the law says a couple needs to live on. I don't get the issue at all.