Lone parent do I Have to apply or can I stay on jobseekers

Mountain34

Hi there I’m just wondering about the fact that I’m pregnant with my first child and me and the babies dad are together but don’t live together (as he works quiet far away) once the baby arrives can I stay signing on for Jobseeker’s Allowance ( as I am currently not working) or do I have to apply for lone parents allowance? I ask because I intend on continuing looking for work and will be getting help from the babies dad anyway so would prefer not to go down the messy root and apply for lone parents when financially I will be ok anyway with help from the dad. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

myshirt

How would you get lone parent if you are not a lone parent?

If your partner is on low money, look into Family Income Supplement (FIS), it might be a better option than Jobseekers. Jobseekers might be hard given you will be taking care of a baby.

Congrats on the baby and best of luck.

Edit: Sorry, to answer your question directly, yes you can hold onto your Jobseekers payment, you are entitled to work just like anyone else. But as your payment will be a reduced payment based on your partner's earnings, maybe FIS might be better for your family.

Mountain34

Hi there. Thanks for the reply. Well you can get lone parent if you are not living with the babies dad you see. And also not sure if he can apply for fis when not living with me and the baby. This is why I was asking is it a “Must” to apply for lone parent or can I stay on jobseekers when I will continue to look for work after the baby arrives.
Thanks anyway for reply 😊

myshirt wrote: »

How would you get lone parent if you are not a lone parent?

If your partner is on low money, look into Family Income Supplement (FIS), it might be a better option than Jobseekers. Jobseekers might be hard given you will be taking care of a baby.

Congrats on the baby and best of luck.

splinter65

Hi
Ignore the other reply. You absolutely can get lone parent but of course you can stay on JSA and add baby to the claim. You don’t have to apply for lone parent at all. And if you change your mind yo can apply at any stage before your baby is 7.
Your dead right he won’t get FIS unless you totally sign off SW and you’re relying on him financially.
Good luck.

Mountain34

Oh that’s super thanks so much for that info as I didn’t want to go through the messy process especially when my partner earns enough to help take care of baby so don’t want to be taking advantage when it’s not necessary also at some stage he plans on getting a transfer so will move in with me and baby sometime (hopefully soon)
Thank you very much for the information again
Take care

splinter65 wrote: »

Hi
Ignore the other reply. You absolutely can get lone parent but of course you can stay on JSA and add baby to the claim. You don’t have to apply for lone parent at all. And if you change your mind yo can apply at any stage before your baby is 7.
Your dead right he won’t get FIS unless you totally sign off SW and you’re relying on him financially.
Good luck.

Pronto63

Mountain34 wrote: »

me and the babies dad are together but don’t live together

You also refer to him as your partner which would suggest that you are not entitled to lone parents.

Depending on exact circumstance it's possible that his earnings should be taken into a/c with your JSA payment.

AryaStark

Mountain34 wrote: »

Hi there I’m just wondering about the fact that I’m pregnant with my first child and me and the babies dad are together but don’t live together (as he works quiet far away) once the baby arrives can I stay signing on for Jobseeker’s Allowance ( as I am currently not working) or do I have to apply for lone parents allowance? I ask because I intend on continuing looking for work and will be getting help from the babies dad anyway so would prefer not to go down the messy root and apply for lone parents when financially I will be ok anyway with help from the dad. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

You are not a lone parent if you are in a relationship with the father.

splinter65

AryaStark wrote: »

You are not a lone parent if you are in a relationship with the father.

That’s just not true. If she is living separately from her partner then the Dept considers that she is parenting the child alone . An Inspector will visit her at home to establish this. And she’s not applying for lone parent.

splinter65

Pronto63 wrote: »

You also refer to him as your partner which would suggest that you are not entitled to lone parents.

Depending on exact circumstance it's possible that his earnings should be taken into a/c with your JSA payment.

She’s not applying for lone parent, and her exact circumstances are that she’s not living with him so his income will not figure in her means test.

Gatling

Your cohabiting so your not entitled to lone parents

AryaStark

splinter65 wrote: »

That’s just not true. If she is living separately from her partner then the Dept considers that she is parenting the child alone . An Inspector will visit her at home to establish this. And she’s not applying for lone parent.

If someone is getting financial support from a partner, whether they live with them or not, they are not a lone parent and so should not be accepting the allowance.
Plenty of people pretend that they are not getting support or still dating the father in order to get this payment. Op has asked if they should move to loan parents payment. They shouldn't as they are not a loan parent.

Mountain34

Mountain34 wrote: »

Oh that’s super thanks so much for that info as I didn’t want to go through the messy process especially when my partner earns enough to help take care of baby so don’t want to be taking advantage when it’s not necessary also at some stage he plans on getting a transfer so will move in with me and baby sometime (hopefully soon)
Thank you very much for the information again
Take care

If your partner is moving in with you, then you’re no longer a lone parent. Also bear in mind that you will have to declare change in circumstances when he does, which could affect your payment.

Good Luck with the next chapter in your life. Parenthood is brilliant.