Moving in with partner

Dan88

hi guys another question,

I currently recieve uc for housing and pip as I am unable to work.
since the stress of having to appeal for them saying I am capable of work. I have spoken to my partner about potentially moving in with them, as I’m so scared of not being able to hold down a job due to illness and not being able to cover my rent.
it this were to be the case.. would all my benefits stop?
I appreciate I wouldn’t get housing as I would not need that, but I would want to contribute as much as I can to bills and still be able to provide for myself.
Does anyone know if this is the case?
He does not receive any benefits and works full time.

Also any advice on getting help with an appeal? Like support on what to do ? Say? Etc

thank you

Kimi87

PIP isn't means tested, so that would continue in full if you decided to move in together.

Entitlement to means tested benefits such as UC would take into account all household income ie his wages.

You can find local welfare rights help here:

https://advicelocal.uk/welfare-benefits

poppy123456

Does your partner claim any benefits, if so which ones? Either way you would need to report a change of circumstances for UC and report living with your partner. You will then be sent a linking code.

Your partner will need to make a claim for UC theirself and use the linking code to join both claims together. Your UC entitlement will then be based on your joint circumstances. If they have capital of more than £16,000 then entitlement will end.

Dan88

thank you, no he doesn’t receive benefits and has a good job is on over 40k per year.

But he does not give me money? His income is not mine or joint to me.
I understand rent would stop but I don’t see why the rest would as he does not help me financially?
this is what confuses me?

Sorry if this seems dim, I just don’t understand how it all works.
Thanks in advance

michael57

if you are living with him as a couple his wages would be taken into consideration regardless its the rules of uc as i understand it as poppy said you will need a linking code

Kimi87

Universal Credit is a means tested benefit. Partners living together are expected to support each other, rather than turning to the state for means tested benefits.

poppy123456

Unfortunately, that's the rules of means tested benefits. When you live with a partner you claim as a couple. You can put both your details into a benefits calculator to check to see if there's any entitlement. Though you will still have your PIP, which is a good thing.

Jimm_Alumni

Hey @Dan88, I understand if your partner doesn't give you any money, but the DWP expects a partner to help look after you if they earn over the threshold. So you'll need to take into account anything they earn before receiving any Universal Credit or any other means-tested benefits as other's have mentioned.

You can try the two different scenarios in a benefits calculator if you wish to compare how things could be: Turn2us Benefits Calculator

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/912075#Comment_912075

No one has mentioned there wouldn't be any entitlement to UC if they live with their partner. It's been advised to use a benefits calculator. We can give that advice because we don't know both of their exact details.

If they've been through the work capability assessment and have either LCW or LCWRA there'll be entitlement to the work allowance so the threshold for maximum earnings will be higher before entitlement reduces to zero.

Jimm_Alumni

I was going off them saying their partner earned over £40,000 a year. Though you are right there could be other circumstances, which is why I also suggested using the benefits calculator. I should've been more clear and so edited my original comment!

Dan88

how very 1950s of the UC to expect someone’s partner to pay for them.
thank you both for your help. I will look into it. It was only something we had spoken about briefly.
I was on I believe limited work capability. Where my doctor didn’t want me to be back at work due to several illnessses including bad depressions and anxiety. My mum helps me with day to day stuff when I can’t move around.
I had a review assessment and a man called me and decided that I can go back to work., which I did a MR and now it’s going to tribunal. Which I’m terrified about.

poppy123456

It's not 1950's at all, those have always been the rules. In fact, UC is a lot more generous than what the old legacy benefits such as Income Related ESA were, when living with a working partner.

When you live with a partner then yes entitlement should be based on your joint circumstances for means tested benefits.

Dan88

what I mean by that is.
How is my parter expected to support me financially.
I am not his wife? That isn’t the way the world works now that a partner pays for another.
I am unable to work due to illness, which is no fault of my own. I love working and I loved the job I did.
Finding someone to love me and support me despite all my illnesses is hard enough without them needing to support me financially aswell. Leaving me little to no independence.

Kimi87

You would be living together as a couple in the same household, married or unmarried doesn't matter in that situation when it comes to means tested benefits.

Bills are also cheaper in a shared household rather than running two sets of everything, so sharing can be a financial advantage.

Depending on when you had to stop work, you may be entitled to New Style ESA, which as a contribution based benefit isn't affected by household income.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-employment-and-support-allowance

Dan88

I understand this exactly.
And do not expect the entitlement I get now.
it would be helpful if they worked it out based on household bills so I would be able to contribute rather than just on his income to cover me.
I will have to look into it more as I wouldn’t want to put all that responsibility on him.

poppy123456

Have you worked at all in tax years 2021/22 and 2022/23? If so then you can claim New style ESA. It's not means tested so living with a working partner will not affect it.

Have you actually put both of your details into the benefits calculator above? If you were found fit for work and you don't have children on your claim you won't be entitled to the work allowance so there may not be entitlement to UC due to his earnings.

However, if you're found to have LCWRA once the Tribunal makes their decision then you'll have the work allowance and the extra money for LCWRA so there maybe some entitlement then.

Dan88

that makes a lot more sense.
no i will use the calculator to do so.
I haven’t worked since just before covid which is when I got sick.
I am going to try and get some help from CAB re my tribunal. I am in such a state over it. The telephone interview review I had was awful and now I’m just terrified.

I have been part of a work tribunal before and the stress it put on me I couldn’t deal with.