Benefits change in circumstances

Darcy214

Hi everyone I'm just looking for some benefits advice if anyone can help.

Basically I separated from my husband in 2014 I moved out not long afterwards but due to health reasons I had to move back in to the family home in 2017, I'm no longer allowed to live alone due to ongoing health issues so my ex said I could stay in the family home so I could still spend time with our children. We informed the correct services and everything has been ok, apart from an issue with Child Tax who said because we live together we are classed as a couple. Anyway my ex is due to move over to UC at the end of August but he was wondering would it be easier for us just to claim as a couple? If so would we need to inform the current benefits before he claims UC or will it not matter, as we don't want them saying will hold on you were claiming as a single person so why are you changing it now. He no longer receives Child Tax which he should be entitled to but they're being pains because of an issue with our banks.

Anyway my main question is would it be easier to claim as a couple since we live together & if so should he inform his current benefits before claiming UC? He currently receives Income Support, Carers Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction plus Child Benefit as he is the main carer of our daughter who has disabilities. I claim PIP for my own health problems would I also need to inform them?

Thank you for your help answering these questions, I truly appreciate it.

poppy123456

Before I can advise are you named on the Income Support claim and did he receive a letter asking him to apply for UC as part of managed migration?

Darcy214

Hi Poppy thank you for your reply no he is the sole claimant on everything including Income Support, he got asked to migrate over to UC by the end of August.

Everything is in his name including bills etc, I live independently of the household and claim my own benefit which they are aware of.

He just thinks it would be easier claim as a couple as I can't live alone due to ongoing health issues, so I'm here for the foreseeable future unless I move into assisted living but here I can spend as much time with my children as I wish.

Thank you for taking the time to help me with this I truly appreciate it.

poppy123456

As you’re not claiming Income Support as a couple because you’re not living as a couple then I don’t understand why you would want to claim UC as a couple. If you claimed as a couple then Income Support may ask questions about this.

When you were claiming Tax credits the rules for that were different and it was never as easy to claim as single people if you were living together, especially if you are still married, so I totally understand why that stopped.

It’s a shame you didn’t individually claim UC a long time ago as you’ve both deprived yourself of income by not doing so.

To be clear you should each claim individually if you’re not a couple. I would advise you both to claim ASAP and not to delay the process any further.

If he’s claiming carers allowance for looking after you then he will need to report being your carer when he claims UC. As a carer he will have no work commitments.

For yourself you will need to make sure you report your health condition and provide a fit note. You will be treated as a job seeker until a decision is made on your work capability assessment. A work coach does have discretion to either turn off or reduce commitments while you wait for a decision.