My husband wants to move in, how would it impact our benefits? — Scope | Disability forum
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My husband wants to move in, how would it impact our benefits?

Paganwolf
Paganwolf Community member Posts: 8 Listener
edited February 12 in Benefits and financial support
Hello everyone my Husband and I have been estranged for a few years and during that time I claimed ESA Support Rate Income Based and Housing Benefit.  We now are getting back together and the trouble is he is on Pip Lower Rates and Universal Credit where he has to show he will be seeking work in the future, but is not harassed due to this autism.

He wants to move in, but is worried he will have to be assessed again and could lose his Pip and be required to work when he is not ready.

I too worry that I will lose my support rate and have to be assessed as whether I am fit for work, when I know I am not.

The other issue is that we are both worried how we will merge my ESA and his UC into one claim and how long it will take to get sorted.  Please 😣 help 
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  • bg844
    bg844 Community member Posts: 3,883 Disability Gamechanger
    He needs to do a change of circumstances and report that he is now in a couple. He will be given a linking code, once you apply on your end it will become a joint claim. 

    As you are in the support group for ESA you will get the LCWRA equivalent via UC, just to be clear do you mean your husband does not receive LCWRA in his own right? Any contributions-based ESA you get will be deducted in full. Both of you will not be reassessed. PIP continues as normal and for him it’d just be a simple change of address. 

    Do you receive PIP too?
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  • Cher_Alumni
    Cher_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 5,741 Disability Gamechanger
    Hello @Paganwolf and happy Sunday. It's great you found our online community, how are you doing?

    What lovely news that you and your husband are reconciling, we wish you all the very best for your future. Please do answer the questions from @bg844 and that will help us better advise you.

    Just to let you know, I've renamed your thread and moved it to our Benefits and financial support category to make it more visible to other members.

    Good luck and please keep us posted with any updates :)
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  • calcotti
    calcotti Community member Posts: 10,011 Disability Gamechanger
    Has he ever had a Work Capability Work Assessment?

    Do you get PIP?
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Rules may be different in other parts of UK.
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  • Paganwolf
    Paganwolf Community member Posts: 8 Listener
    Not sure how to reply to comments.  Yes he has Pip lower for both and he has to prepare for work in the future,  but only attends the Job Centre every 3 months.  
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  • Paganwolf
    Paganwolf Community member Posts: 8 Listener
    calcotti said:
    Has he ever had a Work Capability Work Assessment?

    Do you get PIP?
    Not sure how to reply to comments.  Yes he has Pip lower for both and he has to prepare for work in the future,  but only attends the Job Centre every 3 months.  Sadly I never applied for PIP as it would mean I would have to go on to UC and that thought scares me.
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  • Paganwolf
    Paganwolf Community member Posts: 8 Listener
    Cher_Scope said:
    Hello @Paganwolf and happy Sunday. It's great you found our online community, how are you doing?

    What lovely news that you and your husband are reconciling, we wish you all the very best for your future. Please do answer the questions from @bg844 and that will help us better advise you.

    Just to let you know, I've renamed your thread and moved it to our Benefits and financial support category to make it more visible to other members.

    Good luck and please keep us posted with any updates :)
    Thank you and certainly it's a very scary time. The system makes it very difficult for disabled people to find love and be supported.

    I also would love to know if I could add him to my ESA and claim couple before the migration in 2028?  That would make it far easier.  

    Not sure how to navigate to @bg844 as find it hard due to my disability.


    Thank you 
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  • janer1967
    janer1967 Community member Posts: 21,964 Disability Gamechanger
    Claiming pip does not mean you have to move to uc 
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  • Paganwolf
    Paganwolf Community member Posts: 8 Listener
    bg844 said:
    He needs to do a change of circumstances and report that he is now in a couple. He will be given a linking code, once you apply on your end it will become a joint claim. 

    As you are in the support group for ESA you will get the LCWRA equivalent via UC, just to be clear do you mean your husband does not receive LCWRA in his own right? Any contributions-based ESA you get will be deducted in full. Both of you will not be reassessed. PIP continues as normal and for him it’d just be a simple change of address. 

    Do you receive PIP too?
    Hello bg844 I am in the support group he was assessed on UC as not being able to work, but needs to prepare for work in the future.  I am not sure what that is on UC, but they ask to see him every 3 months.

    I don't want to lose support esa, so can he drop his UC and just join my claim so we can both migrate in 2028?  Also will he still be assessed even though he is joining my claim?  These are things we both are very worried about.

    Thank you so much and sorry but only just came across this as learning how to use this forum.
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  • Paganwolf
    Paganwolf Community member Posts: 8 Listener
    janer1967 said:
    Claiming pip does not mean you have to move to uc 

    I am worried that should PIP turn me down I will lose ESA as that is based on my disability 
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  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 49,868 Disability Gamechanger
    Claiming PIP will not affect your ESA in a bad way and will not mean you’ll need to claim UC. 

    It sounds like your partner was found to have limited capability for work (LCW) 
    As advised by bg844 if you move in with your partner then they will need to report a change of circumstances for UC and tell them they are now living with you. They will then be sent a linking code.

    You will need to make a claim for UC yourself and then use the lining code to join both claims together. 

    As you’re in the Support Group then you will be entitled to LCWRA from the start of your claim. If any part of your ESA is contributions based then this will continue but be deducted in full from any UC entitlement. 

    Although your partner is claiming daily living PIP even if you look after them for at least 35 hours per week because you’ll be claiming LCWRA then you won’t be able to claim carers element because both elements can’t be paid to the same person.

    You should also look at the criteria for PIP for yourself and if you think you qualify then you should start a claim. If you’re award at least daily living PIp then your partner can claim carers element for looking after you. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/Global/Migrated_Documents/adviceguide/pip-9-table-of-activities-descriptors-and-points.pdf
    I would appreciate it if members wouldn't tag me please. I have all notifcations turned off and wouldn't want a member thinking i'm being rude by not replying.
    If i see a question that i know the answer to i will try my best to help.
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  • calcotti
    calcotti Community member Posts: 10,011 Disability Gamechanger
    edited February 12
    You cannot have him added to your ESA because he already claims UC. If you live together you have to claim UC with your claim added to his (in the way that poppy has described). That will end your income based ESA.

    Do you know if any of your ESA is contribution based?
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Rules may be different in other parts of UK.
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  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 49,868 Disability Gamechanger
    Paganwolf said:

    I don't want to lose support esa,

    You will be entitled to the LCWRA element of UC from the start of your UC claim.
    I would appreciate it if members wouldn't tag me please. I have all notifcations turned off and wouldn't want a member thinking i'm being rude by not replying.
    If i see a question that i know the answer to i will try my best to help.
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  • JBS2022
    JBS2022 Scope Member Posts: 2,075 Disability Gamechanger
    I always find it sad when people choose not to live together because it will affect or reduce their benefits. If people want to live together then they should, regardless of finances. Remember expenses for a couple in the same property are less than two people living separately, hence lower income. I've seen so many comments on these forums from people choosing to stay separate because they'll get less cash. Regarding UC everyone is going to be moved onto it eventually ( not gonna get scrapped like people hope) so may as well get it over with and fortnightly payments can be requested if it's an issue.
    Life is better in a fishtank  🐟
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  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 49,868 Disability Gamechanger
    Just to add further. If you move in together please don't forget to report this to your local Auhority because if you currently live alone then you'll be receiving 25% single person discount for your council tax. You will no longer be entitled to this when you live with your husband.
    I would appreciate it if members wouldn't tag me please. I have all notifcations turned off and wouldn't want a member thinking i'm being rude by not replying.
    If i see a question that i know the answer to i will try my best to help.
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  • Paganwolf
    Paganwolf Community member Posts: 8 Listener
    calcotti said:
    You cannot have him added to your ESA because he already claims UC. If you live together you have to claim UC with your claim added to his (in the way that poppy has described). That will end your income based ESA.

    Do you know if any of your ESA is contribution based?
    Thank you so much all my ESA is income based now thanks 
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  • Paganwolf
    Paganwolf Community member Posts: 8 Listener
    poppy123456 said:
    Just to add further. If you move in together please don't forget to report this to your local Auhority because if you currently live alone then you'll be receiving 25% single person discount for your council tax. You will no longer be entitled to this when you live with your husband.
    Is it possible to get the 25% for disability 
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  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 49,868 Disability Gamechanger
    Paganwolf said:
    poppy123456 said:
    Just to add further. If you move in together please don't forget to report this to your local Auhority because if you currently live alone then you'll be receiving 25% single person discount for your council tax. You will no longer be entitled to this when you live with your husband.
    Is it possible to get the 25% for disability 

    That would be the carers discount (25%) and you can't claim this if caring for a partner/spouse.

    If you’re a carer, you won’t be counted for Council Tax purposes if all the following apply: 

    • you provide at least 35 hours of care a week 
    • you live with the person you care for 
    • you’re not the spouse or partner of the person you care for, or their parent if they’re under 18 
    • the person you care for receives certain disability benefits. 
    You can have a look at the disabled band reduction but you'll need to meet the criteria for that. See link.



    I would appreciate it if members wouldn't tag me please. I have all notifcations turned off and wouldn't want a member thinking i'm being rude by not replying.
    If i see a question that i know the answer to i will try my best to help.
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