Universal credit question help

[lemonandlimes2]

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.

@PandaBabyJuly Do you get help with housing costs??
I’ve been trying to work out if I could be a full time student but it’s so hard to get the info.
I have 2 kids, and rent payments.

@Frazzledmum55 if you live alone with 2 kids yes you should get help with your rent payments.

Basically how mine broke down was

My student loan + Student grants

Disregard the student grants & childcare help & disability allowances / grants

Divide student loan by how many months You go to uni (mine was 10)

Gave me a "wage" or "earned income" which they then deducted from my personal allowance UC payment

Just because we share a household, does not mean we share money.

As far as Universal Credit are concerned, you are expected to. That's the rules the government has made. If you are considered a couple living together it's a joint claim.

Of course do check that all the figures from UC are correct. There's an allowance for both of you (which is more if either are over 25), a housing element if you rent. The maintenance loan should be divided across the term time (usually 10 months) and treated as earned income, the tuition fee loan and certain other grants and loans are ignored. Maybe other things I've overlooked.

The loan is my partners. We do not share money

DWP rules are that when you are living as a couple, you are treated as one unit for benefit purposes. The income of both partners is taken into account, and student loans count as income.

Harsh, perhaps, but them's the rules.

As he lives with you it is correct. He will have to support you now.

When was the last date that you worked ?
Because if you have paid into the system with tax & National Insurance you should be entitled to universal credit job seekers allowance for a certain time period
Or have you been self employed ?

I think for student loans they are supposed to take into account whether anyone in your household relies on you financially so it's worth your partner checking this.