unemployed co habiting partner

[briancbyrne]

hi,
Someone might have some advice for a work colleague of mine.
She works full time.
Her partner (not married, but living together 10 years plus) and herself jointly own thier house.

He was a self employed stone mason but has been out of work for 6 months plus.

Is there any form of social welfare he can claim??
He has come up against a brick wall when phoning the social as they claim that as his partner is working her income should be taken into account. When this was said to her she queried could she then take his tax credits as they were been penalised living together so on the other side of the coin she thought she may be able to use his credits, but was told they would have to be married to do this.

Has he any avenue for any payments - he has paid a lot of taxes over the previous years and it seems gossly unfair that he is entitled to nothing.

 

[gipimann]

They have met the anomaly of the tax code vs the social welfare code - being treated as a couple for one, but not the other.

Self-employed persons pay class S PRSI contributions, which do not qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit.

The only other option is Jobseeker's Allowance, which is means-tested, and will take his partner's income into account.

 

[z104]

It's a crappy deal alright.

You could always head down to the registry office? Will cost a couple of hundred quid.