Hi, my name is EthneandGee2023! Benefits Query

EthneandGee2023

hello - I need help my partner and I want to live together - whereby I move in with him I have been his carer and now partner - I care for him and I work I have no benefits I dont earn very much and have a little in savings.  My question is he cannot afford to lose any of his benefits he has ESA and PIPS his housing and council tax is paid in full.  does it affect any of this.  the next question if this is not affected what do we do - how do we go about this.  I have tried call the local authorities the call are not answered we have no Idea how to go forward with this.

Jimm_Scope

Hi @EthneandGee2023, I know it's really difficult sometimes to find all this information. What I do know is that his PIP will not be affected as that is not means-tested. I'm going to move this topic over to the benefits section where people with more benefits knowledge will be able to see it and answer, hopefully reassuring you.

You could also fill out the benefits calculator at Turn2us Benefits Calculator, inputting what your situation  would be like with the two of you living together to get a good idea of what would be available.

poppy123456

If they currently live alone and their ESA includes the Severe disability Premium then they will lose that because you will be living together as a couple. If you're working more than 24 hours per week and their ESA is all Income Related then this will stop completely once you move in with them.

If you work less than 24 hours per week then £20/week of your earnings will be disregarded and then the rest of your earnings will reduce the ESA £1 for £1. He will need to report the changes once you move in. When he rings them they will be able to tell him whether the ESA is Income Related or contributions based.

If any part of their ESA is contributions based then this will continue because it's not means tested.

He will also need to report the changes to his local Authority and his housing benefit and council tax reduction will need to be recalculated based on your earnings.

If his council tax includes the single person discount then this will also end.

You should get a full benefits check from an advice agency near you because it maybe worth claiming Universal Credit as a couple. As this can be more generous than Income Related ESA when living with a working partner. If there's any entitlement then he will need to make sure he claims the UC before his entitlement to ESA ends because if he's in the Support Group for ESA then he'll be entitled to the LCWRA element of UC from the start of his claim. If entitlement to ESA ends before he claims UC then he will need to go through the work capability assessment process again.

Jimm_Scope

As poppy says if you need help there are often local advice agencies, try searching for your local Citizens Advice Bureau here Contact us - Citizens Advice 

EthneandGee2023

Thank you both.  I am not looking for benefits.  We just want to live together.. I am happy to pay rent and council tax.  He just doesn’t want to lose any benefits and rightly so.  He has severe mental challenges. I fear if we couldn’t be together.  We both feel so lucky to find a perfect partner in each other at our age.  I am on a visa I am earning not great money but I can live.. we still want to maintain our independence… and be together..

EthneandGee2023

Oh and I have spent hours holding on the phone at the citizen's advice there is no email available at this time.  

poppy123456

Unfortunately when you live together as a couple then means tested benefits need to be claimed as a couple. He can’t continue his means tested benefits as a single person. 

You say you are on a visa, do you have access to public funding such as benefits? Or are you currently “no recourse to public funds?” 

His PIP won’t be affected as mentioned above. 

EthneandGee2023

No recourse to public funds

poppy123456

Thank you. Although you have NRPF your partner still needs to report the changes to ESA and their local Authority, if you move in with them.

If his ESA is Income Related then your earnings will still be taken into consideration and reduce their ESA as advised above. However their claim will remain as a single person with no extra money for you. If their ESA includes the severe Disability Premium then this will end because they will no longer be living alone. When he rings them he needs to make sure he tells them that about your NRPF because if he doesn’t this could affect your visa. 

Same rules apply for council tax reduction and housing benefit.