Partner and I, both disabled, might move in together. UC income changes?

FlowerBee

My partner and I currently live apart and are looking to move in to our first new home in future. We both want to know and be reassured in how our incomes might change if we are classed as LTAMC (Living Together as a Married Couple)?

We may try to argue that we are not LTAMC and reject a joint claim if the cost of living under the same roof would be too great and maintain that we are separate households on moving.

(See ADM Chapter E4: Universal Credit – Living together as a married couple - cannot post an external link yet as I am a new member.)

We want to move in together to be closer to one another and to provide what limited care we can for one another. For my partner, it is primarily because her care needs cannot be adequately met while living with her family (her family will not tolerate PA/Carer support, but cannot meet her care needs themselves either.)

We both receive Packages of Care / Direct Payments from our local Adult Social Care agencies and have Carers / Personal Assistants.

We are both over 25 years old and have Severe Health Conditions.

If we live together, we will be sleeping and receive our cares in separate bedrooms. We will see each other very sparingly throughout the day, on average, for maybe an hour - though we may message each other more frequently, or even audio or video call each other if we're both well enough.

In terms of social security, we both - each, receive:

• Universal Credit, with LCWRA.
• NS-CB ESA, in the Support Group (LCWRA).
• PIP, Enhanced Daily Living & Enhanced Mobility.

We understand that PIP and ESA are not affected by Universal Credit, but that Universal Credit is reduced by ESA on a 1-to-1 basis, and that our PIP awards entitle us to one instance of the Carers Element under a joint Universal Credit claim.

I have tried to do a breakdown for us (see below) and I am disregarding any Child-related Elements (as we have no children) and Housing Costs (as we know this will be covered, then paid out to our local authority/landlord/letting agent.)

UC Allowances and Elements:

Standard Allowance
As single: £424.90 each.
As joint: £666.97 together.

Limited Capability Element
As single: £429.80 each.
As joint: £429.80 together (one instance only.)

Carers Element
As single: £0.00 each.
As joint: £209.34 together (one instance only.)

Total UC Amounts:

Monthly
As single: £854.70 each.
As joint: £1,306.11 together.
We would lose out on £225.70 each under a joint claim.

Yearly
As single: £10,252.80 each.
As joint: £15,673.32 together.
We would lose out on £2,708.40 each under a joint claim.

Employment and Support Allowance Amounts:

ESA Bi-Weekly
As single: £291.80 each, every two weeks.
As joint: £583.60 combined, every two weeks.
There is no loss of income each.

ESA Yearly
As single: £7,586.80 each, yearly.
As joint: £15,173.60 combined, yearly.
There is no loss of income each.

Total joint-benefits yearly:

As single: £10,252.80 (= £7,586.80 ESA + £2,666 Universal Credit) each, yearly.
As joint: £15,673.32 (= £15,173.60 ESA + £499.72 Universal Credit) combined, yearly.
We would lose out on £2,710.40 each, £5,420.52 combined, under a joint claim.

Is all of this right so far?

Is there anything else we need to know or haven't considered, either within these benefits or beyond these benefits, before we make a final decision on whether or not we live together in the same house?

Rosie_Scope

Hi @FlowerBee. Welcome to the community! Sorry you haven't had a reply to this yet. This can be quite a complex area as a lot of the time it comes down to the UC staff's decision whether they count you as living together as a married couple. Will you be sharing anything else within the house? For example, having a joint bank account, sharing food bills, eating together and things like that.

It looks like you've done a comprehensive job of working things out so far, but you could also try using a benefits calculator to compare your findings: Benefits Calculator

It may also be a good idea to chat to a trained benefits adviser just to go through everything with you. Turn2Us have an advice finder tool if that's something you'd like to look into: Turn2Us - AdviceFinder

Emilee

@FlowerBee

You said: "We may try to argue that we are not LTAMC and reject a joint claim if the cost of living under the same roof would be too great and maintain that we are separate households on moving."

I would strongly advise against that, if you are a couple and are living together you should have a joint claim. To argue you are not a couple when you are can be classed as fraud.

Your calculations look correct but remember although your overall income is likely to reduce when living together, so will your expenses and bills. One household, even with multiple occupants, is far cheaper to run than two households.