PIP and UC (housing benefit)

clumsylunch
clumsylunch Online Community Member Posts: 9 Listener
in Universal Credit (UC)
Hey everyone

I'll be moving in with my boyfriend and needing to claim UC, I get enhanced rate PIP for both daily living and mobility components

If I'm correct, I believe claiming UC for housing is received as a disability premium?

I just wondered how straightforward this process was, will it just take a phone call?

I struggle a lot with anxiety and really don't want to have to be interviewed

Comments

  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,001 Championing
    edited June 2023
    You will both have to claim UC if claiming UC. Your entitlement will depend on your joint circumstance.
    Does he claim UC already? What benefits do you already receive? 
    UC includes help with rent,
    UC does not include any disability premiums and I don't understand what we mean by linking the housing help to disability.
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    I note from a previous thread that you're claiming ESA in the Support Group. https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/103845/change-of-circumstances-appointee#latest

    This means that when you claim UC you will be entitled to the LCWRA element from the start of your claim. There are no disability premiums payable when claiming UC. If your ESA includes the SDP now then moving in with your partner will mean there's no entitlement to the SDP transitional protection when claiming UC.

    You will both need to start a claim and one of you will receive a linking code to use to join both claims together.

    If any part of your ESA is contributions based this will continue but be deducted in full from any UC entitlement.

    If no one is claiming either carers allowance or carers element of UC for looking after you then you partner will be able to claim carers element. Assuming they look after you for at least 35 hours per week.

  • clumsylunch
    clumsylunch Online Community Member Posts: 9 Listener
    @calcotti My partner has claimed housing benefit in the past but doesn't currently, I am on PIP and receive ESA, I'm in the support group. My thinking was the UC for housing was classed as a top up payment because I'm already receiving PIP, but I see this is incorrect.

  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,001 Championing
    clumsylunch said:
    @calcotti My partner has claimed housing benefit in the past but doesn't currently, I am on PIP and receive ESA, I'm in the support group. My thinking was the UC for housing was classed as a top up payment because I'm already receiving PIP, but I see this is incorrect.
    What type of ESA are you getting? New style, contribution based, income based or a mix of contribution based and income based?

    You should not look at applying for UC without working out whether there will be any entitlement which will, as mentioned, depend on your joint finances.


  • clumsylunch
    clumsylunch Online Community Member Posts: 9 Listener
    @calcotti I am not receiving the new style, my ESA is income based, so I know that my partner's wage means a percentage of it will be reduced, if not removed entirely.

    And yes I know this, my original question was basically about how you apply and what this involves, what I am aware of currently is due to our joint financial circumstances I will be eligible to apply for housing UC.
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    clumsylunch said:
    My thinking was the UC for housing was classed as a top up payment because I'm already receiving PIP, but I see this is incorrect.

    Yes, that’s  not correct. If you claim UC then any Income Related ESA you’re claiming will end after 2 weeks. 

    PIP is a separate payment to UC. 
  • Hannah_Alumni
    Hannah_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,866 Championing
    @clumsylunch Welcome to the community! :) Benefit's are not my area of expertise but wanted to say congratulations to you and your partner on moving in together! And good luck with the packing, I bet it's been a great opportunity for a sort out too!
  • clumsylunch
    clumsylunch Online Community Member Posts: 9 Listener
    @Hannah_Scope Thank you so much! :)
  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,001 Championing
    edited June 2023
    clumsylunch said:
    And yes I know this, my original question was basically about how you apply and what this involves, what I am aware of currently is due to our joint financial circumstances I will be eligible to apply for housing UC.
    The housing element is just part of the overall UC calculation - it isn’t separate. There may be no entitlement to be paid any UC depending on your joint circumstances. Have you done a benefits check that confirms that something will be payable?

    If you do claim you should do so while you are still getting ESA. If you are in the Support Group you will be entitled to the LCWRA element from the start of the UC claim. 

    When you go to live with your partner UC will you a linking code. He claims UC and uses the linking code to join his claim to yours. If you are receiving the daily living part of PIP he can declare that he cares for you and will get the carer element. The total UC calculation will include the couple allowance, LCWRA element, the carer element and the housing element. The amount payable will take into account his earnings. The first £379 of his earnings will be ignored, 55% of anything over that will be deducted.


  • clumsylunch
    clumsylunch Online Community Member Posts: 9 Listener
    @calcotti yes I have
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    calcotti said:
    clumsylunch said:
    And yes I know this, my original question was basically about how you apply and what this involves, what I am aware of currently is due to our joint financial circumstances I will be eligible to apply for housing UC.
     The first £379 of his earnings will be ignored, 63% of anything over that will be deducted.


    Typo this should be 55%.



  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,001 Championing
    poppy123456 said:
    calcotti said:
    clumsylunch said:
    And yes I know this, my original question was basically about how you apply and what this involves, what I am aware of currently is due to our joint financial circumstances I will be eligible to apply for housing UC.
     The first £379 of his earnings will be ignored, 63% of anything over that will be deducted.


    Typo this should be 55%. 
    Thanks poppy, now corrected. (I obviously had a timeslip!)
  • clumsylunch
    clumsylunch Online Community Member Posts: 9 Listener
    calcotti said:
    clumsylunch said:
    And yes I know this, my original question was basically about how you apply and what this involves, what I am aware of currently is due to our joint financial circumstances I will be eligible to apply for housing UC.
    The housing element is just part of the overall UC calculation - it isn’t separate. There may be no entitlement to be paid any UC depending on your joint circumstances. Have you done a benefits check that confirms that something will be payable?

    If you do claim you should do so while you are still getting ESA. If you are in the Support Group you will be entitled to the LCWRA element from the start of the UC claim. 

    When you go to live with your partner UC will you a linking code. He claims UC and uses the linking code to join his claim to yours. If you are receiving the daily living part of PIP he can declare that he cares for you and will get the carer element. The total UC calculation will include the couple allowance, LCWRA element, the carer element and the housing element. The amount payable will take into account his earnings. The first £379 of his earnings will be ignored, 55% of anything over that will be deducted.



    This was super informative and gave me a lot of clarity, so thank you. My confusion was over the components, but you've explained them perfectly.
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    calcotti said:
    poppy123456 said:
    calcotti said:
    clumsylunch said:
    And yes I know this, my original question was basically about how you apply and what this involves, what I am aware of currently is due to our joint financial circumstances I will be eligible to apply for housing UC.
     The first £379 of his earnings will be ignored, 63% of anything over that will be deducted.


    Typo this should be 55%. 
    Thanks poppy, now corrected. (I obviously had a timeslip!)

    No worries, it's easily done!

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