Supporting A Partner Through This Time

jau231

My partner and I live in Scotland and in separate rental homes. He has ASD and daily life is a challenge and he is not able to work a conventional job. He cannot work due to his conditions, pressures and the exhaustive effects it has and much more besides. He is in receipt of PIP, housing benefit, council tax reduction and potentially others as he recently migrated to a new system.

He is very withdrawn and worried just now about potential changes in the future to disability payment and it is inescapable on the news. Though, the challenges are never far from his mind ordinarily. He has a good advice centre with friendly staff he can trust, it is very much in demand and he only uses their advice when he really, really needs to. I have been checking in on him and speaking to him, supporting him in any and every way I can think. Is there any more I could or should be doing?

I feel that we are being punished too and prevented from progressing with our own lives. We are desperate to live together and have been for some time. But this is just not possible with the cuts to his benefits (that would occur if we lived together), he would find it impossible. I have said that I have savings and so on and earnings but it is vital he would have his independant money and what he receives now is minimal but just what he needs to live on. He does have some savings too but these are very much for future/emergencies.  I work 32 hours a week, my earnings are below the national average/living wage, I do have epilepsy and my partner helped me to apply for PIP which I receive.  I know that PIP is a bit different and is given regardless of other factors to the individual.  It is a rather long winded passage apologies.  I really just wished to know how and if others have encountered this issue of living together and if anyone had any advice going forwards?  It is probably a luxury to wish for us to live together in the face of the challenges that so many others are facing.  It is just that life feels like it is on hold, we are missing out on sharing more of our lives together.