UC non dependent adult (not partner) living together

keevs

Hi, i hopw someone can help me. My childrens dad has recently lost his home (we are not in a relationship) and he is struggling to find somewhere else to live (housing crisis in our area) we have 3 children together 2 severely disabled and in receipt of dla. He works full time and he has asked if he can stay with us for a few months while he finds some where new to live. My question is how would this effect my universal credit? He has said he'll help towards rent and pay his usual child maintenance but I'm scared it will dramatically reduce my own universal credit? I also dunno how it works and how to inform UC of this change as he isn't a partner? Or is this not allowed?

OverlyAnxious

Hi,

This is allowed but it's a bit complicated.

As long as you don't appear like a couple, then you would be treated like two friends living together, or having a lodger. For this reason, your UC would not be affected by him living in the property.

You can also accept some rent from him without that being counted as income when on UC. (This is better than the old ESA, where it would count as income).

However, it is likely to raise suspicion, and may cause you some hassle and stress from the UC staff, particularly if any neighbours report you for living together.

So yes it is technically allowed, but I wouldn't necessarily expect it to all go smoothly.

With regards to the process, it should be as simple as using your online journal and then going to 'make a change' to say that you have taken in a lodger.

keevs

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1018344#Comment_1018344

Thank you for your reply. He just informed me this morning that he has found a house for himself but it will not be ready for him to move into until June. He has documentation of this, so do I just show that to UC to prove he won't be in my home after that point?

OverlyAnxious

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1018435#Comment_1018435

Honestly I don't think UC will be particularly interested in that type of documentation. What matters to them is how you appear while you are living in the same property. There's certainly no harm in offering them a copy of that though.