Better off with non dependent living with me as no deduction

Lainybear

Hi 👋🏻

Bear with me plz 😭
just moved to UC under migration I have paid bedroom tax since all my children moved out, as im in a 3 bedroom but am allowed extra bedroom as I am carer for my middle son who stays over at mine when he’s struggling as I have my own mobility issues so I struggle with the stairs he’s in a second floor flat not to far from me. I also used to foster which allowed the 2 bedroom.

I am on the autistic spectrum with adhd traits that I try to manage well

I don’t cope well when there’s change

I didn’t realise the actual impact or anticipate how the move to UC would affect me

I’m worried every second of the day, I’m not sleeping my anxiety is through the roof basically due to the prospect of my home not being my home anymore due to not being able to afford bedroom tax going forward 😨

This made me look at non dependent deductions under UC which seemed a better option as cost is £97 compared to £125 for bedroom tax , then I discovered that as I get PIP daily living with enhanced mobility that there actually is no deduction for any non dependents that live with me because I’m on PIP myself and I’m solely responsible for the rent on my house

Have I got this correct?

As my brother offered to move in to help me as my own health is deteriorating also to support me with my adult son when it’s needed

Have I got this right that I would be entitled to my full rent on both HB and UC

My question is would this have triggered a move to UC under change of circumstances ?
on housing benefit meaning I lose my traditional protection on legacy benefits?

If I report it as change of circumstances after I migrate to UC b4 I get my first UC payment so in first assessment month ?
Does this change mean I will lose my transitional protection on UC due to being entitled to full rent due to no non dependent deduction?

I really hope I make sense above but I feel either way I’m worse off

Can someone please explain spd protection as I think I have this from legacy benefits

😨😨😨

poppy123456

I'm somewhat confused how you're claiming an extra bedroom because you're a carer for your son. What I would expect is for you to claim an extra bedroom for yourself because you need regular overnight care, rather than the other way around.

For the extra bedroom for a carer you will need to make sure you claim that because it's not automatically paid.

Bedroom tax and non dependant deductions are both completely different. As you correctly stated, there will be no non dependant deductions because your PIP includes the daily living part.

If your brother moved in then yes you'll be entitled to the extra bedroom. However, if he moved in after the end of your first UC assessment period and your UC includes Transitional Protection (TP) then this will erode by the same amount as the housing element increase so you will not be any better off.

If he moved in during your first assessment period then it will not affect any TP.

Lainybear

please can you explain how it wouldn’t affect my TP if I report change now In first assessment period ?

Does the change in circumstance trigger a uc claim meaning I am then not entitled to Tp its all so confusing 🫤

poppy123456

It won't affect it in a bad way as such. It would mean that TP could be less because the difference in the figures between your previous benefits and UC would be less, so there would be less TP to pay you.

It's better to report it in the first AP than the 2nd one. Once your TP has been calculated if changes happen after that and you become entitled to other elements, or other elements increase the TP decreases by the same amount. Which would mean that even though housing element increases, you'll still be entitled to the same amount of money due to the TP decreasing.

Your 2nd question.. "does a change in circumstances trigger a UC claim" that's a moot point now because you've already claimed it so the migration is completed.