Question about getting married and living apart or together with benefits

Theresa18
Theresa18 Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener

Hi

Myself and my partner are looking to get married. We would like to find out if getting married and living apart would affect our benefits PIP and UC? And also weather living together with or without being married would affect our benefits to? Would anyone in Consensus know or give any advise on this or do you have any advise on this

Comments

  • Theresa18
    Theresa18 Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener


    Please ignore the word Consensus

  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 9,653 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    hey there @Theresa18 and welcome to the community.

    If you live with your partner, regardless of marital status, you will make a joint claim for Universal Credit. Your joint income and savings will be assessed to determine your payment amount. You will receive one monthly Universal Credit payment, and you'll need to decide which bank account it's paid into. PIP would be unaffected.

  • Theresa18
    Theresa18 Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener

    OK what if we marry and not live together would that affect us?

  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 9,653 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    I'm not 100% on this, but I believe if there's any kind of financial dependency between a couple, then it will still be one claim? Though I have seen people saying it's only affected if you're living together.

    I'm hoping one of the regulars will be able to give a definite answer here. If not it may be worth asking Citizens advice.

  • Ranald
    Ranald Online Community Member Posts: 1,035 Championing
    edited May 1

    I lived apart from my wife, but it was only until we could get the divorce sorted out! ;-)

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 4,244 Championing

    As long as two people don't live together, they can keep two single UC claims, even if they are married.

  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 9,653 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    Ah brilliant, thanks for the clarification @OverlyAnxious most appreciated. 😊