Moving in with husband, would I be entitled to UC?

fionaCam
fionaCam Online Community Member Posts: 2 Listener
edited October 2024 in Benefits and income

Hi there!
I hope you can help me. I separated from my husband 4 years ago and since have claimed universal credit and PIP.

As my condition is getting progressively worse, my husband suggested moving into a rented house together. This would mean we split the finances for the new home although my husband works away and us only at home 2 nights of the week.

Would I still be entitled to any money?

I know that my PIP won’t change but it’s not enough to live on.

Comments

  • Jimm_Alumni
    Jimm_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 5,717 Championing

    Hey @fionaCam, first of all welcome to the community 😊 You are right in that your PIP would remain the same, though, if you do not receive the enhanced rates and you think your worsened condition would be eligible for the enhanced rates it may be something to consider putting in a change of circumstances.

    About moving in with the husband, you would be treated as a couple, rather than two separate households living under the same roof. Unless you can evidence that you are not a couple somehow. I'm not sure on how to do that off the top of my head.

    If you are unable to evidence that your finances are separate then your Universal Credit claim will have to become a joint Universal Credit claim and will take into account both of your incomes. You could try calculating the possible outcomes using a benefits calculator such as the one at Turn2Us

    You can read more about Universal Credit here: Applying for Universal Credit | Disability charity Scope UK

    I'm just going to move this over to our general benefits category as well.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing

    If you are moving in together as a couple then your UC entitlement will be based on your joint circumstances.

    Your husband will need to start a claim for UC himself. You will need to report a change of circumstances and tell them you’re living with your partner. You will then be sent a linking code to join both claims together.

    If your PIP includes the daily living and no one is claiming either carers allowance or carers element of UC for looking after you then he can claim that.

    Whether there’s any entitlement will depend on both circumstances.

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