Will my benefits be affected if I share a house?

Starlingbird

Hi all I have just joined the site because I am hoping that someone might be able to offer me some advice. I currently live alone in a house I own. I am on ESA and PIP. I am looking to sell my house and move into a bungalow, which I will be buying with a friend. We plan to split it into two (both parts having their own kitchen, etc, with no shared areas). We will be sharing utility costs, etc. Does anyone have any idea how this will affect my benefits, please? I would really appreciate any advice or info. Thanks in advance.

Biblioklept

I don't think I have seen your situation before with sharing but owning half each. Definitely not a couple? 
PIP won't be affected either way. What type of ESA do you get?

Starlingbird

Hi Biblioklept,
Thanks for your reply. No, we are definitely not a couple! I have been traumatised by years of harassment and really need to move for the sake of both my mental and physical health. I cannot afford to buy something on my own. I am on contribution based ESA. 

Biblioklept

If it's just contribution based ESA and PIP with no income top up, then it won't change your benefits at all Be sure to double check with DWP that it has no income top up though as it's just the income bit that could be affected

poppy123456

Sharing a house will not affect any of your benefits.

Starlingbird

Thank you Biblioklept and poppy12345! May I ask what 'income top up' means, please? I feel so battered and stressed that I burst into tears of relief on reading your replies! Thanks for the good news It's going to be a massive upheaval for me to move, so feeling reassured about my benefits will be one less thing for me to deal with.

calcotti

Starlingbird said:

Thank you Biblioklept and poppy12345! May I ask what 'income top up' means, please? 

On the old type of ESA you could get both contribution based and income based ESA. If you are getting more than £117.60/week some of it will be income based.

poppy123456

Even if your ESA does have the Income Related top up which includes the Severe disability Premium, living seperately like this shouldn't affect the SDP. The only thing that affects means tested benefits would be if from the sale of the house you'll be left with savings of more than £16,000.

Starlingbird

Thanks for all your replies. Much appreciated. I won't be left with anything from the sale of my house (I won't own as great a percentage of the bungalow as my friend will). 
Thanks again everyone!