Will our benefit change?

Tropicaliyes

Hi all.. I’m wondering if anyone could offer some advise as I’m confused and worried.

I have been in Receipt of benefits for a long time and it has changed as time has gone on.. I now receive ESA (income based I believe), Housing benefits with council Tax reduction and PIP (Enhanced rate).

My now partner has been getting their mail posted to my address for quite a few years now as they don’t stay in one place but move around from place to place.. They are also in receipt of ESA (income based also) and PIP (Enhanced rate) due to severe illness however after the pandemic moving from place to place doesn’t seem like a great idea so we have spoken about moving in together now we have entered a relationship. We have also spoken about other arrangements like help in finding their own accommodation but that seems harder than just moving into my current apartment.

what would happen to our benefits and my housing benefits and council tax reduction benefits should we decide to commit to living together and contacting to change our circumstances?

I’m worried I would have my benefit fully cut as this has happened before when I just enquired about ESA when I was on JSA way before all of this however I know that just speaking to them can cause them to assume and act without making sure.

Thanks in advance

Tropicaliyes

What is couple benefits? 

I know of a joint ESA claim however how does the housing and council tax get changed? Would that stay on ESA or would it change to something else and how would the amounts change?

calcotti

ESA, HB and CTR can all become couple claims. If you are both on income based ESA only then you will have to decide who will receive that - you can’t both get it. His income and savings will be taken into account. It is likely that your total income will be lower than your combined income but you will have lower overheads as a couple.

you should check if either of you are getting contribution based ESA in your ESA awards. That can continue but will be taken into account as income when calculating income based ESA for the other.

You can check what you might get by using a benefit calculator.

Are either of you nearing State Pension age?

Tropicaliyes

For both of us our income is only what is received through benefits.. so essentially we both have the same income minus what the council take from me (which most are automatically deducted from benefits).

Im Guess them being on my tenancy or not doesn’t make a difference? As they likely won’t be put on the tenancy.

I don’t believe either of us are getting contribution based ESA because we both get it paid into our accounts but then I’m not sure how I would find out?

We are both nearly 30 so nowhere near pension age.

I think I was more concerned that my housing benefit and council tax reduction would stop all together just because of the change.. I don’t care If it is reduced but if it is stopped it would put me at risk of loosing my property which I don’t want to think about… if that was the case then me helping to get them their own accommodation would be much better.

poppy123456

Tropicaliyes said:

Im Guess them being on my tenancy or not doesn’t make a difference? As they likely won’t be put on the tenancy.

That won't make a difference because you'll be living together as a couple.

Tropicaliyes said:

I don’t believe either of us are getting contribution based ESA because we both get it paid into our accounts but then I’m not sure how I would find out?

Getting your ESA paid into your accounts has nothing to do with whether part of it is contributions based. To find out then each of you will need to ring ESA andf ask.

Tropicaliyes said:

I think I was more concerned that my housing benefit and council tax reduction would stop all together just because of the change..

You will still be entitled to housing benefit. The person that moves out of where they currently live, will obviously no longer claim housing benefit for where they currently live. (if they claim it)

If you currently live alone then you would lose the single person discount for your council tax.

If you are both claiming daily living PIP and there will be no other adults living with you then you would be entitled to the couples severe disability premium, in with your ESA (providing no one claims carers allowance or carers element of UC for looking after either of you)

calcotti

Tropicaliyes said:

I think I was more concerned that my housing benefit and council tax reduction would stop all together just because of the change.. 

They will both continue. Your HB will not change. If you currently live alone you will have slightly more Council Tax to pay because of the loss of the single person discount that poppy referred to.

poppy123456

If both of you are claiming all Income Related, the person who's ESA stop, it would be worth asking for it to remain a NI credits only claim. Otherwise, they won't get their NI credits paid because only the main claimant has this paid.

Tropicaliyes

When you say the couples severe disability premium is that something on top of our PIP claims or is that a change of 2 PIP claims to 1 disability premium? I’m confused as to what will stay separate and what will be put together as 1 and the other person’s one gone.

Oh I didn’t know about the NI credits thing.. I will be sure to make sure that is it mentioned.

right now we are currently looking for other properties so we don’t have to both be living together and worry about what will and will not be lost and cut off.

another thing is that should “couples” decide to stop living together, I guess it won’t be possible to go back to whatever you was on before? I read that once one benefit is stopped it cannot be started again (I think it was maybe housing and tax benefit).

poppy123456

The SDP will be included in your ESA. If you’re currently living alone and no one claims carers allowance or carers element of UC for looking after you, then your ESA should already include the single person SDP. 

I think the best thing for you both to do is speak to an advice agency near you for a full benefits check. They will tell you exactly what you’re entitled to and they will write everything down for you. For this start here https://advicelocal.uk/
If your partner decides to look for somewhere else to live, rather than with you, if they don’t currently claim for help with any rent they would need to claim Universal Credit. This would end any existing Income Related ESA. If they claim for help with the rent now and they move to the same local Authority then their housing benefit will continue and they would need to just report a change of address.