Benefit if my partner is working?

In a couple where one person is working and the other person is unemployed benefits may be able to be claimed. Whether the couple are eligible for benefits is highly dependent upon the job role that is held by the person that is employed. This job should have a maximum salary of 16,000 and should not exceed twenty hours. If this is the case then a couple may be in the position to claim income support, although numerous other factors will be checked in order to establish whether the eligible, this includes checking whether they have any substantial savings.

Income Support is a benefit that has been designed in order to help certain people that do not have enough money to live off. The amount of income support provided is means tested, meaning that a financial analysis of the money that a couple will earn will be considered. The weekly income must be below a certain sum before income support is paid, this also takes into other benefits that the family receive. The benefit is not a contributory based benefit and is therefore not based on the national insurance contributions that have been made by individuals. Income support will be available even if a person has never paid national insurance contributions before. Once a couple start to receive income support they will automatically qualify for the maximum housing benefit and council tax benefit.

Couples that are eligible for income support include both heterosexual and same sex couples, it is also regardless whether a marriage or civil partnership is held. The person that places that claim is responsible for the claims on both sides of the relationship, this means that both members of the couple will be assessed in terms of financial circumstances. As part of the process to claim income support an interview may be held, this is usually with the claimant, although it is not unusual for the person who is not claiming to be interviewed also.

If a couple are considered to have above average living costs a premium will be added the benefits that they receive. A couple may be eligible for the premium if they are above the state pension age or if one half is above the age. Other examples of why a premium may be paid include being disabled or being a carer for a sick or disabled person.

A financial analysis will be carried out in order to assess how much money a couple needs to live off, this includes money required to pay for rent and living costs. After the application process and interview a decision will be made regarding whether they are eligible or not.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_10018708