If you have a joint account with your spouse or partner, legally the total amount in the account is owned by each of you. Therefore it can be assessed in full against each of you. However, if both you and your spouse or partner are getting means-tested social assistance payments, it will be assessed either on a shared basis or against only one of you.
In applying for Jobseekers Allowance straight after Jobseekers Benefit, what other 'means-tested social assistance payments' is this referring to ? Medical card ? Does this mean that joint savings will be counted twice ?
A means test examines all your sources of income (for example, cash income, employment, capital and maintenance). When the total means for a married or cohabiting couple is calculated, only half will be taken into account.
However, if you are getting Jobseeker's Allowance (JA) .... your means are only halved if your spouse/partner is getting certain social welfare payments
These are the 'social assistance' payments the paragraph is referring to.
If you are claiming your wife as QAA, means are not halved. Cb not relevant SW payment in this respect.