Teenage parents and benefits

If you claim income based JobSeekers Allowance (JSA) or Income Support (IS) and you don't live with the father of your baby your JSA or IS application will include an application to the Child Support Agency (CSA) for a maintenance assessment. Your benefit may be reduced if you refuse to give details of your baby's father. The only way you can refuse to apply to the CSA without having your benefit reduced is if you can prove that doing so would put you and/or your child at fear of harm/undue distress.For further information send an SAE to the Maternity Alliance and ask for their Single Parents factsheet.

Living with your partner

You count as living with your partner for benefit purposes if you live with him as if you were married to him. You also count as living with your partner even if you are both staying with your parents, other relatives or friends.

Can I claim any benefits if I am living with my boyfriend?

During pregnancy: If both you and your partner qualify for JSA or IS, you will be able to get IS or JSA as a couple. This will be £66.50 per week if you are both under 18. If your boyfriend is 18 or over the claim should be made in his name and you will be entitled to £67.30 per week.

If you are not entitled to IS or JSA, for instance, because you left home voluntarily and would be able to return to live with your parents, but your boyfriend is entitled to JSA or IS, he will only be paid the single person's rate of benefit even though you are a couple. If your boyfriend is over 25 he will get £55.65 per week. If he is between 18 and 24 he will get £44.05 per week. If he is under 18 he will get £44.04 if he has good cause for not living with his parents and £33.50 otherwise.

If your boyfriend is working full time and is under 25, you won't be able to claim any benefits until the baby is born, except you may get Housing Benefit to help with the rent. If he is 25 or over he may be eligible for Working Tax Credit (WTC) to top up his wages.