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Original poster

Universal credit question help

32 replies

lemonandlimes2 · 22/01/2021 14:20

Hi, writing for some advice I've hit rock bottom. I didn't know where to post this.

I've currently had to add my partner to my claim, who is a student and receives a loan. We have just been told that my new credit allowance is now £0 a month, because they have taken my partners loan and obviously divided it up into used it to influence the money we would get

The loan is my partners. We do not share money, how am I suppose to live off £0 a month untilI find a job. Just because we share a household, does not mean we share money.

Any suggestions.

OP posts:
Soberfutures · 22/01/2021 14:26

But as he lives there he will or should be contributing to the household. So your bills and rent will be less for you.

So he has to contribute to the bills

Original poster
lemonandlimes2 · 22/01/2021 14:27

Yes he does, he can pay his rent and food and stuff.
But how am I suppose to on now £0

OP posts:
Original poster
lemonandlimes2 · 22/01/2021 14:34

Anyone.
I feel so hopeless

OP posts:
ThatVeganFeminist · 22/01/2021 14:35

If you share a household you are expected to share money.
Why does he have to live with you?

Soberfutures · 22/01/2021 14:35

He must have quite a bit of a loan for them to take your award to nil. Have u seen the breakdown of what they are using for his income? Should find it on your latest statement.

slashlover · 22/01/2021 14:43

A shared claim means shared finances so his loan should be for the household and not just his expenses.

Soberfutures · 22/01/2021 14:44

Have they calculated it properly.

They are meant to take the loan and look at how many assessments you have as a claimant in each term. They then divide that income for each assessment period and deduct 110 pounds.

Have they done this?

Hwory · 22/01/2021 14:45

Living as a household means sharing money. If he (and you) weren't prepared to do this you shouldn't have moved in together.

Soberfutures · 22/01/2021 14:45

Look at this page for advice. And look at what his loan is made up from as some parts are disregarded

Universal credit question help
Autumnrose9 · 22/01/2021 14:55

Yes unfortunately this is the way they do it. But have they calculated it right? Make sure it's done properly as unless he has a huge loan,I doubt you would be entitled to nothing.

Sorry it's so stressful you would think having a partner move in would help sometimes it makes it worse.

Original poster
lemonandlimes2 · 22/01/2021 15:15

He has a max loan around 10,000. I just don't understand how this system is assuming we share money, despite us saying so and despite the job centre saying loans shouldn't effect it. So he's now in a position to have to share his money for university, travel and food. I feel like a pathetic dead weight who isn't getting jobs and just exists.

OP posts:
ThatVeganFeminist · 22/01/2021 15:21

@lemonandlimes2

He has a max loan around 10,000. I just don't understand how this system is assuming we share money, despite us saying so and despite the job centre saying loans shouldn't effect it. So he's now in a position to have to share his money for university, travel and food. I feel like a pathetic dead weight who isn't getting jobs and just exists.
Do you have kids? You share money because you share a household. That's how the system works.
ginnybag · 22/01/2021 15:21

It's always the assumption that if you live together as one household, your finances are also per household. The only way to avoid this would be to pretend he's your lodger, not your boyfriend - and that's fraud. If you're caught, you'd (rightly) be prosecuted.

BUT, make sure the calculation is correct - because they often make mistakes. and it doesn't seem right that two of your are expected to live off £10k per year with absolutely no help.

Check housing benefit, council tax benefit sections in particular and check that they've allocated his loan as 12 payments (if your assessment period is monthly) of £833.33 for the year and not just applied the loan as a whole amount in one place (or, more likely, three places).

Soberfutures · 22/01/2021 15:34

I agree they must have calculated wrong. As above says. As it should be divided by assesment periods over the year. Not including summer holidays and each month should have the 110 allowance

Poppyseeds2 · 22/01/2021 15:42

You need to be more careful OP. As another poster said your classed as one household. Other wise too many people would say we do not share finances even though they live together..

If you have children I would advise he moves out tbh.

You can call for CAB they are really helpful.

Poppyseeds2 · 22/01/2021 15:44

@Hwory

Living as a household means sharing money. If he (and you) weren't prepared to do this you shouldn't have moved in together.
Bit harsh. OP clearly didn’t realise judging from her post.
PandaBabyJuly · 22/01/2021 15:48

I'm a full time student - I get £20 UC a month and that's with the full loan ..... so yes they have calculated it right

Soberfutures · 22/01/2021 15:50

I just think you need to check on your journal what they are classing as his income for the period. Of they only saying about 800-1000 approximate maximum per month then they have calculated correct.
If its higher or even 1 lump sum they are wrong. Only the OP can look and check these details.

Soberfutures · 22/01/2021 15:51

But are you on your own or with a partner

Soberfutures · 22/01/2021 15:52

That was to @PandaBabyJuly

dontdisturbmenow · 22/01/2021 15:54

If he is expected to support you, he might be able to claim more on his loan, but ultimately, it will be a loan rather than benefit.

PandaBabyJuly · 22/01/2021 15:58

@Soberfutures

I'm on my own; however when I first looked as I was planning to live with my partner - I was told I would get nothing - my partner then left me so now I receive minimal.

If you call up and speak to UC they're quite helpful; they explained how they worked it out etc
They take it as earned income - a wage - even though it needs to be paid back eventually

movingonup20 · 22/01/2021 15:59

Loan counts towards your household income so takes you over the threshold I suspect. It's the same for all of us, I can't claim uc because my dp works even though we don't share finances. If you live together then for uc purposes you are one unit

Jackie7527 · 22/01/2021 16:17

Hi,
To my knowledge if you are living together AND are a couple, DWP will assume that you have shared finances.
So for example if you are in a relationship but you and your partner dont live together, you can claim as a single person with seperate finances. Likewise if you live in a house with other people/person who is not your partner, you can claim as a single person with seperate finances.
What tenancy do you have atm? Is your partner on the tenancy?

FinallyHere · 22/01/2021 16:49

It's always the assumption that if you live together as one household, your finances are also per household.

Just for the record, before anyone suggests it's obvious the way it should be, this is only the case for benefits. Taxes are levied on individual adults

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