Partner works full time self employed + tax credits. I am unemployed can't claim anything.

[Evvy543]

I am unemployed and really struggling to find work, I can't claim job seekers or do any college courses to help me back into work because my partner is expected to 'keep me' due to working full time.

We have just applied for tax credits which we have qualified for, and he has agreed to have it paid into my bank account, so at least I will have access to some money for food shopping etc without having to ask him for it.

I could do with going back to college and training again in something different, which might help me get a job. E.g healthcare or beauty therapy but the college said because I can't claim job seekers, I will have to fund the course myself.

It's really getting me down this. I'm an individual person! Yet just because my partner works full time, I can't get any help whilst I look for employment. He has been great throughout my unemployment and very supportive but I just feel so awful having to depend on him. I need my independence. :(

Tons of free online courses on Cousera and Future Learn. From Basic level to more specialised and beyond. Im doing a course. Hopefully I will finish by end of next week, then its onto another one, woo hoo! I'm married and husband is self employed. I 'officially' don't work so I gope these courses will help me back into the game.

But you BOTH have to work if you're a couple in order to claim working tax credit

*partner. My apologies.

What I mean is that I am unemployed but in reality I help dh in his work behind the scenes.

Good luck, need a trim. I will deffo check those out! :)

When we rang up they told us as long as he is working 30+ hours a week we can claim as a couple. We both had to sign it. He put down his hours, I put down my unemployment and put the total amounts I'd earned in previous work. Then they asked which account it would be going into.

You can both claim as a couple if you both work as well, what you will get depends on your total income between you.

Maths gcse is a minimum requirement for most jobs so that will be why you aren't getting far in the application process. It is free to retake if you didn't get a c or above, even for adults , as is english although not biology etc. Ask your local fe college . You might be able to get a learning loan for an Access to Nursing ( or indeed other careers) course or level 3 Hair and beauty (you wouldn't need level 1 or 2 if you met other criteria, that tends to be for 14-16 yo or apprentices) but it is likely you'd have to wait until next September to start. You could even look at apprenticeships for H and B as that would include on the job training and college while paying you a small income.

Btw it isn't a case of your dp being expected to "keep you" just that a household claim is joint.

Employers won't regard you as "well educated" if you haven't got maths GCSE. That would be an excellent place to start!

If you're thinking of nursing do you know that you now have to pay tuition fees for the nursing degree? Yes you don't pay it upfront and it comes out your wages when you're earning a certain amount but you will owe nearly 30k.

Short term; ring up the Bank Office at your local hospital and ask if you can go on the bank as a HCSW. They don't always advertise but they're often needing people for bank work so if they take you on you'd get some work.