Advice on hours

candy2595

hello, I’m after some advice. I receive pip both standard for daily and mobility. I’ve just had to down my hours from 29 to 14.5 (fit note from doctor to work under 16 hours until 31.12.22 - with an extension if needed), I do get some UC, they have sent me a capability for work assessment so I’m awaiting an interview/assessment.

I’ve always been down as being single because I have been, but now I have a partner and he earns good money as a chef working long hours for £29k p/a. Will this affect my claim? As I feel it’s unfair and I can’t rely on him to pay for everything, because he earns good money - he takes home under £2k a month - but has high outgoings of his own to pay for. 

Our rent is £950p/m, plus bills, food everything else etc. 

I’m at a loss of what to do here. How will it affect my benefits if I tell them I have a partner? I’ve enough stress, illnesses and money issues of my own. I don’t want to put all the pressure on him because he can and is able to work full time and I can’t at the moment, I’ve kidded myself for a long time into working 29 hours a week, but it’s made me break. What do I do here?.

poppy123456

One question before I can advise further. Are you living together?

candy2595

we’ve just moved in together, so now I’m in a panic, quite understandably 

candy2595

He can’t afford the rent, bills, food and everything on his own, the little I earn is already used up on my part of the rent, bills and everything else. I’m using free food apps. He has a lot of outgoings as well, as he’s from Sweden and is paying stuff off

poppy123456

Thank you. Then you will need to claim UC as a couple. Your partner will need to make a claim for theirself. You will need to report a change of circumstances on your journal and tell them your partner is now living with you. You will then be sent a linking code to join both claims together. Entitlement to UC will be based on your joint circumstances.

If your partner has savings/capital of more than £16,000 you'll be excluded from claiming. For every £250 or part there of over £6,000 there's a £4.35/month deduction.

If there's no savings/capital and no one is claiming either carers allowance or carers element of UC for looking after you then your partner can report being your carer and there will be an extra £168.81/month included in your maximum UC entitlement.

If there's no children on your claim then you won't have the work allowance, which means your joint earning received each month will reduce your UC by 55%.

Once a decision is made on your work capability assessment if found to have either LCW/LCWRA then you'll have the work allowance. This means that a certain amount of earnings each month will be ignored before the deductions apply. As you're claiming help with the rent the your work allowance will be £344/month.

You can use a benefits calculator to check if there's any entitlement but you need to make sure you put both of your details into it. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator/Intro/Home?cid=7dc16a2c-3ac3-45cb-a97d-0f98e257df40

Your PIP will not be affected. If you were claiming single person discount in your council tax then you'll need to report the changes to your local Authority and your council tax will be recalculated.