To ask if it's financially possible for a partner to move in (UC related)

[Shinydiscoballs1]

How does it work for universal credit if I decide on a partner moving in with me and my kids?
Would uc base my award on our joint income?
Do people find that this would not work financially?
If i get £800/ month just now on uc I'd be lost without that amount, but I couldn't ask my partner to suddenly contribute that amount, can anyone shed any light?

Well he’d have to contribute to the rent and bills - so that should make up the shortfall.

you shouldn’t be better off if he moves in, but most are worse off.

He would need to be contributing fairly to the family though? So you wouldn't be 'losing' £800.

But uc is split up into elements towards my children and then for myself, why should a potential partner be expected to contribute to my children?
This is hypothetical!!

Depends how many hours he works and how much his income is. If he has a high salary you may not get anything at all, but if the salary is low you would still be entitled to some UC
The joint income is what UC will take into consideration

Surely all household bills would be split in some way? He would have rent or bills to pay on a second residence so that money would then contribute to your household instead. Only one lot of council tax, so 50% each as a couple rather than 75% each for two singles. Only one fridge freezer to run, house to heat.

*wouldn't have rent

He wouldn't be contributing to your children, but to rent, bills, food etc.

Any other shortfall you would need to address, increasing income or work etc. Presumably their father contributes too?

UC is awarded at household level. You get allowances for the members of the household and the UC award is calculated on your household income.

Yes, your UC claim will be affected because you will be living together and his earnings will be taken into consideration.

You should check what this would mean for you by going to that benefits calculator site entitled to.

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what you think is fair. The claim looks at money coming into the household.

Does he have any children?

Will your council tax be impacted too?

This is precisely why some people choose not to live with their partner, because they would lose out financially. Of course the partner should contribute fairly to your household and ideally that would result in a scenario where you’re both either better off or at least no worse off, because running two households is more expensive than one. But every situation is different so if his current living costs are low and you would lose a significant amount in UC then the two of you need to decide together if living together is worth it, and how you will split that financial hit between you.

To be honest, going through those conversations is probably a good test of the relationship and everyone’s intentions, before you move in together!

Just beware because MN is full of threads from women who are worse off because a bloke has moved in with them and feels he shouldn’t have to pay anything much because ‘you had those bills anyway before I moved in’ etc etc. Single mums with a house can be seen as an easy target for a cocklodger who conveniently overlooks how much she has lost in benefits when he moved in. I’m baffled by any parent who allows her children to have less because she’s so desperate for a live in boyfriend 😕

I see, no he doesn't have kids.
Yes my council tax will be affected for sure. Just now I have a discount depending on my earnings and also single person discount too

My (now ex) DP moved in with my DC and me. We split the bills roughly 50/50 even though my DC and I technically made up 75% of the household. I couldn't have afforded 75%of the bills and clothes for us all and our joint income meant we didn't qualify for benefits.

While the relationship didn't work out, and ultimately he was a bit of a twat, I'll always be grateful that he saw our expenses as joint.

You’ll find out very quickly what kind of a person he is and whose responsibility he considers your children to bed when you have this conversation it’ll be an eye-opener

Where does he live now, and what are his current expenses? Is he moving into your house to save money? Why can't things stay as they are?

They are your children, and therefore they are your responsibility - you can expect a partner to financially support them just because he's moved in with you. Clearly further down the line, then yes, maybe.

That said he should contribute 1/? to all household outgoings to cover his 'share' of the expenditure.

It's a really tough situation I'm afraid, it's worth having all these conversations well before he plans to move in.

This is a weird comment. They just aren’t his responsibility.

I think I would be careful. Potentially he could cut his living expenses by half while you could lose up to 800 a month. You need a proper discussion about how this shortfall will be met. You may be better off overall if he didn't move in.

Most people would spend more than £800 a month on rent, all bills (has, electricity, water, phone line, broadband, home/contents insurance etc) and council tax, so why shouldn't he contribute that amount if that's what your UC drops by?

Personally when my now dh moved in we just split all expenses down the middle - and later just pooled all money. He viewed moving in as becoming a family with all the responsibilities that holds.

You would need to cancel your claim and make a joint one. It would absolutely be calculated on joint earnings.

Why on earth would he consider someone else’s children his responsibility?! I think he would be the one having his eyes opened to what kind of person his partner is if she expressed that expectation. So wildly inappropriate and grasping.

My partner has just moved in. My UC has gone from £1,600 to £950 pcm (it’s high due to twins and a disabled child) I am also now liable for £160pcm in council tax whereas before I had £0 council tax.

It’s very difficult to maintain any kind of financial independence if you’re on UC and move a partner in. My partner cannot make up the £810 shortfall entirely from his salary but we’ve come to an arrangement. I do feel uncomfortable that he has had to take on financial responsibility for my children but fortunately he is ok with it. It doesn’t seem fair to me but I can see it wouldn’t be fair for us to have my previous UC payment plus his salary. I can see why a lot of people don’t declare that they’ve moved someone in though.

When my husband moved in he absolutely accepted that our financials as a household. Why on earth wouldn't he? If a man moves in with a single mother on benefits house then he has to accept that he'll be coughing up coin if he's earning. Not just 'contributing his share because the kids aren't his responsibility'.

I think you are likely to lose most of your UC. You can calculate it to.co.uk here.

I guess this is one of the reasons single mums stay single. Unless the man is prepared to make up for the UC loss, you may end up depending too much on the good Will of a man that is not willing ir able to commit financialy at that level.