My girlfriend is currently coming to the end of her last year of A-Levels (finishing in the next 2 months), of which she only down to do 13 hours a week, though in truth probably only attends 5-7 hours a week due to her illness. She is currently receiving income support money due to being unfit for work, she has been diagnosed with having, depression, and CFS. She has been receiving money for about the last 11 or so months. She currently lives at home with her parents who are unable to help her out with any extra money. I’ve looked through so many websites trying to see if there is anything else she can claim and wondered if anyone here knew?

Also in the coming months we plan to move into a house I’ve just brought, the house will be completely in my name, and she will be living there with me rent/bill free, would she still be able to claim these benefits, or will they stop once she’s moved out?

Benefits should not change simply for a change of address although she may get council tax benefit as she will become jointly liable for the debt. Best thing to do is to go to the JobCentre numpties and ask the question. You may get a coherent answer (laughs uncontrollably) but they should be able to give you the right forms etc.

Depression and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are being questioned more and more by the benefit agencies and whilst I don't doubt the voracity of your girlfriend's claim, be careful.

Maybe the house move will help towards her recovery which would be helpful for you both in your new home.

SHARK!

---

For every positive action, there's an equal and opposite government plan.

Yea, we have been down the jobcentre plus place, they were pretty useless so I've decided to try and track down any information myself.

They were the ones that told us that if she was to move in with me they would take my salary into thingys and so not receive any moneys.

Thanks for the reply though

Uhm, yes, that's what being a couple is all about. You love, provide and support each other. Of course she would not receive benefits (other than possible carer's help for you if the medical problems are severe enough.) Why has the Jobcentre Plus been useless? They seem to have given you the correct advice!

And if only it were true that people with depression were moved from invalidity to jobseeker's. In most benefit offices it is the opposite scam that takes place - they are desperate to shift claimants from jobseeker's over to invalidity 'cause it's a lot less hassle for the advisers. It is criminal that people's mental health is being damaged by misguidedly allowing them to fester on invalidity.

I see not much help is being given. Your girlfriend will not get benefits if you are living together as a couple, it is a means of making women dependent on men and decreasing the numbers of people claiming benefits.

I suffer with ptsd and have been disabled for about twelve years. My careworker lives in my home because I need 24hour help, but the flat is in my name. He claims for careworker's allowances and I receive the usual IS, DLA and care component allowances. However, we are not and have never been a couple, so both are eligible for benefits. No idea if this will help you resolve your problems, but at least you know what benefits are available and why you are not getting the help you seek.

Aelwyn, what has this to do with the sex of the claimants? What would be different if the sexes were switched? I fail to see what this has to do with "making women dependent on men".

Gender may be irrelevant for all I know, but I do know two men who did not lose their benefits when moving in with their working girlfriends, while a female friend was denied support because her very ex husband was working and they wanted him to support her, so it was worth the mentioning. I had my benefits cut off for three months after my first careworker stole money from me, while he was given extra money and courses; that left me dependent on my replacement care worker until it was sorted out. Logically, if you leave someone without benefits when they are unable to support themselves, then yes that person is forced to be dependent on relatives or partners. That's way more than you needed to know.