Good evening
Quite literally asking for a friend. Their child's mother is unwell and he looks after their children full time. He is unwell and recieved ESA couples rate (income related), SDP, HB, PIP. His partner is his carer and gets PIP also. Their circumstances haven't changed. They already look after his children full time which has increased from shared care over the years. Previously, the childrens mother has always claimed CB and working tax credits, then UC. She has said he can claim child benefit for their children so that is not contested. But will this trigger a claim for UC, like having a new baby would? Would he lose transitional protection? He currently claims no benefit for being a parent and is worried that because there is no such thing as child tax credits now (?) he would be made to claim UC in order to provide for the children and have an extra bedroom included for housing purposes. Would he be better off with them included on a UC claim or can you claim CB and no UC? What's the best way to claim so they are not worse off? They are financially OK without the money so far but wouldn't turn their nose up at anything else that could help.
Thank you.
