Universal Credit and moving in with my partner

System
System Posts: 218 Online Community Programme Lead
in Universal Credit (UC)
This discussion was created from comments split from: Closing a universal credit claim.

Comments

  • MBA01
    MBA01 Online Community Member Posts: 7 Listener
    Hi,

    Currently, I'm only claiming Universal Credit by myself. However, I'll be moving in with my partner + changing house. What's the best thing to do in this situation? Will it be correct to close the claim and then reapply as a joint couple?

    Also, if my partner works full-time, and I'm a housewife, will I still be pushed to work by the Jobcentre (even if I don't want to)?

    Kindly advice. 
  • bg844
    bg844 Online Community Member Posts: 3,883 Championing
    MBA01 said:
    Hi,

    Currently, I'm only claiming Universal Credit by myself. However, I'll be moving in with my partner + changing house. What's the best thing to do in this situation? Will it be correct to close the claim and then reapply as a joint couple?

    Also, if my partner works full-time, and I'm a housewife, will I still be pushed to work by the Jobcentre (even if I don't want to)?

    Kindly advice. 
    Report a change of circumstances when you move in with your partner and you will be given a linking code, once he applies on his end he can enter this and your single claim will then become joint. You do not need to close your claim. To update your housing costs, again do a change of circumstance via your UC account. Your partner needs to earn more than £988 for you both to be in the light touch regime.

    Do you receive Carer’s Element or LCW/LCWRA on your single claim?
  • Hannah_Alumni
    Hannah_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,866 Championing
    Hello @MBA01

    Just to let you know I popped your comment into it's own thread, in case you had any other questions or queries :) 
  • MBA01
    MBA01 Online Community Member Posts: 7 Listener
    Hi @bg844,

    Thank you for the insights. He earns more than that. Can you elaborate on the light touch regime, please?

     It's due to the child element since I have one (3 years old), and I'm fully responsible for it at the moment.

    Thank you for your support.

  • MBA01
    MBA01 Online Community Member Posts: 7 Listener
    Another question if anyone could answer: I believe with the Joint Claim, I might be asked to work part-time. However, as I said I would like to continue to be a housewife, so for instance, is it better for my husband to claim to own his own, rather than a joint?


    And if he does that, does mean the amount we receive will be significantly less than if it was joint?

  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,001 Championing
    edited February 2023
    MBA01 said:.., is it better for my husband to claim to own his own, rather than a joint?
    He cannot do that. If you are a couple then a claim must be made by both of you.
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    UC is means tested so no your husband will not be able to claim this on his own. When you move in together then as advised you will need to report a change of circumstances and tell them you're now living with your partner. You will then be sent a linking code. Your partner will then need to claim him self and use the linking code to join both claims together.

    Whether there's any entitlement will depend on your joint circumstances. I'd advise you to use a benefits calculator to check entitlement but you'll need to put both your details into it. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator/Intro/Home?cid=ec2d1125-9837-4e39-9d1e-a6d4121f1ed5

    If you have savings/capital of more than £16,000 you're excluded from claiming. If there's any entitlement and your partner earns more than £988/month then you'll be in the light touch regime. Details here. https://www.uc-advice.co.uk/further-universal-credit-information/conditionality-regime
    Does your UC currently include the LCWRA element for yourself?


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