PIP and pension credit if my adult son moves in

buffythefluffy
buffythefluffy Online Community Member Posts: 7 Listener
Does anyone know if my PIP and Pension Credit would be affected if my adult son moved in with me? It wouldn't be permanent but could be up to a year. I don't really want to risk losing them and then have to reapply when he moves out.

Comments

  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,001 Championing
    edited March 2022
    If your Pension Credit includes the Severe Disability Premium you will lose entitlement to that (unless he also gets a disability benefit). If that applies whether or not you would still have some PC entitlement depends on your circumstances.
  • Alex_Alumni
    Alex_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,538 Championing
    edited March 2022
    Hello @buffythefluffy thanks for reaching out today on the forum, welcome, and if I may say I love your username! 

    I don't think your PIP will be affected because it's not means tested, which means it doesn't matter how much income or savings you have. It's about how your condition or impairment impact your daily living. You don't have to report to the DWP if someone joins or leaves your household.

    I've also found information on Citizens Advice, where you can check if a change will affect your Pension Credit, which I hope you'll find useful. 

    Let me know if anything doesn't make sense :)

    Alex
  • buffythefluffy
    buffythefluffy Online Community Member Posts: 7 Listener
    Oh thank you so much both of you, that's really helpful. I have got the severe disability premium so looks like it will be affected then. I didn't want to jump the gun by ringing them yet as he hasn't moved in yet and they're usually quick to stop benefits if they get so much as a whiff as something happening! I haven't told my son he can yet as I have to see how it will affect me. He is working on not on any benefits. I will check out the CA advice, thanks Alex. My user name is my cats name haha :-) 
  • Alex_Alumni
    Alex_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,538 Championing
    You're welcome @buffythefluffy and I'm glad @calcotti was able to advise you as well :)

    Ahh they must be a lovely fluffy cat! 

    Do keep us updated with how you get on, and please ask if anything else comes up that needs clarifying.
  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,001 Championing
    edited March 2022
    Buffy, if your Pension Credit is less than £67.60/week then losing the SDP will end your guarantee PC entitlement (the calculation is more complicated if you have any Savings Pension Credit included). If you lose guarantee Pension Credit that could also affect any Housing Benefit and Council tax Reduction you get.
  • buffythefluffy
    buffythefluffy Online Community Member Posts: 7 Listener
    Thanks Calcotti, I dont have the savings part of PC but it looks like I will sadly have to say no to my son as the thought of having to go through the process of reapplying for everything when he moves out again is too much. I have got everything nicely settled at the moment. He's not in an urgent situation otherwise I would say yes but as things stand I don't really think it's on. I think I will give CA a ring just to get it clear in my mind but what you're both saying is what I was trying to understand when I was having a search online. Thanks very much both of you.
  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,001 Championing
    edited March 2022
    Thanks Calcotti, I dont have the savings part of PC but it looks like I will sadly have to say no to my son as the thought of having to go through the process of reapplying for everything when he moves out again is too much.
    If you are getting more than £67.60 of Pension Credit then even if SDP is lost you would still get some Pension Credit and any Housing Benefit (if applicable) and Council Tax Reduction will be unaffected.

    If the PC were stopped you will likely still have entitlement to HB and CTR (unless you have savings over £16,000) but you’re local authority would need full details of your financial situations in order to calculate the entitlement,
  • buffythefluffy
    buffythefluffy Online Community Member Posts: 7 Listener
    Yes, I'm going to have ask them exactly what the situation is before I go ahead and let him move in. At present I get full HB and CT benefit and obviously he is prepared to pay whatever rent and council tax they ask for. I just don't really want to mess with the PC and PIP if I can help it, but I will have to bite the bullet and ask them what will happen.
  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,001 Championing
    At present I get full HB and CT benefit ..
    That's because you get guarantee Pension Credit.
    ..he is prepared to pay whatever rent and council tax they ask for.
    Because you get daily living PIP he will not be expected to contribute.

    As advised earlier
    calcotti said:
    If you are getting more than £67.60 of Pension Credit then even if SDP is lost you would still get some Pension Credit and any Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction will be unaffected.

    If the PC were stopped you will likely still have entitlement to HB and CTR (unless you have savings over £16,000) but your local authority would need full details of your financial situations in order to calculate the entitlement,

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    Your PIP won't be affected if he moved in with you.
  • buffythefluffy
    buffythefluffy Online Community Member Posts: 7 Listener
    Thanks very much for all your helpful advice. Its something I'm going to have a good think about and weigh up the pros and cons x
  • buffythefluffy
    buffythefluffy Online Community Member Posts: 7 Listener
    Thanks Poppy, I think the problem might just be with the PC after having read all your replies, which I'm very grateful for. So that narrows it down. Maybe it will all work out ok with luck :-) x
  • buffythefluffy
    buffythefluffy Online Community Member Posts: 7 Listener
    I have checked things out today. My PC is less than 67.60 @calcotti. I did a check on gov.uk adding in my son as living with me into the PC calculator and it came up as not entitled to it if he moves in. I don't really understand why, as it doesn't affect PIP but there it is. Its not just the loss of the weekly PC but all the other entitlements that go with it, that you get even if you only get a few pence a week of PC. Going to talk it through with him to decide just how much he needs to move in. Its a shame if it doesn't work out but I suppose there must be a reason why my entitlement would stop, I'm just not sure what it is!
  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,001 Championing
    I have checked things out today. My PC is less than 67.60 @calcotti. I did a check on gov.uk adding in my son as living with me into the PC calculator and it came up as not entitled to it if he moves in. I don't really understand why, as it doesn't affect PIP but there it is. 
    It's because your existing Pension Credit calculation includes an extra £67.60 for the Severe Disability Premium. To get the SDP you have to meet three conditions
    • receive Daily Living PIP, and
    • live alone, and
    • nobody claims carers allowance or the carer element of UC for looking after you
    If he moves in you will no longer be living alone so no longer get the SDP included in the PC calculation.
    (If your son was also claiming PIP you would be treated as still living alone and could still get the SDP included.)