Moving unemployed partner in

[hlfayers]

Hello everyone!
I live in a council flat with my 1 year old daughter. I receive income support,child tax,child benefit and housing benefit.
My partner plans on moving in but recently got made redundant.
Because he would be unemployed we are wondering what kind of benefits we would still receive and what I would lose.
Could we claim income support as a couple as I already do or would it be job seekers?

Thank you :)

Hayley

Is he your DD's father? If not how long have you been in a relationship? I would be cautious about moving him in from a relationship POV and not just a financial POV. And if he does move in, the DWP will treat you as a couple expected to support each other financially.

Does he have savings? Debts?
I assume he's renting atm and doesn't have a mortgage or own any property?

He will be entitled to claim contributory JSA (or "new style JSA" under the universal credit system) for up to 6 months while he is looking for work. This is not means tested so any savings or other income will not be considered. It's £73.10/week IIRC.

If he moves in with you, you will have to stop claiming income support and it will affect your other benefits too (child tax credits and housing benefit). You will lose your 25% single person discount for council tax.

If universal credit has been introduced in your area, you will have to make a joint claim for universal credit and this will replace your income support, CTC and HB. You will only be eligible if your combined savings are less than £16k. Savings under £6k are disregarded and any savings between £6k and £16k will reduce the amount of universal credit you get. If and when he finds a new job, he will need to declare his earnings and this will reduce the universal credit award.

Have you discussed how you will split rent, bills and other living costs? Is he willing to support your DD financially? If he gets another job will he pay his share in proportion to his savings (compared to your benefits) or will he expect 50/50 or you to pay more because of your DD?

in proportion to his savings income sorry

Is he looking for a job. Could he claim JSA

He’s not babies father but we have been together since the start and he wants to move in so he can help more.

When you say it would affect my housing benefit does that mean it would get taken away because while we both don’t work we wouldn’t be able to afford it.

Universal credit is not in my area yet so what does that mean I’d get?

The whole thing is just very confusing!

He is looking for a job,we just need money to see us through until he finds one

I just wouldn’t move him in until he had a job and had been working again for at least 3 months.

"Universal credit is not in my area yet so what does that mean I’d get?"

OK in that case you would stop claiming income support, he would claim JSA, he would claim both contributory and income-based JSA, and it should be a joint claim ie you will be named as his partner. You will call the tax credits helpline and tell them about your change of circumstances. You will call the council (benefits team) and tell them about your change of circumstances. You will continue to get CTC and HB while he is claiming JSA, but you will need to keep them informed and provide proof of his JSA claim. There may be delays especially if you don't keep them informed and provide the documents they want straight away.

You haven't answered my question about savings? Everything I've said above is based on the assumption that your combined savings are not above £16k.

I advise you to do a benefits check using an online calculator such as Entitledto or Turn2us. If it's too confusing you can ask Citizens Advice.

Is he being kicked out of his current home so he needs somewhere to live. I give a minimum of 5 years before a man moves in with me. But that's because I need my own space.

You should book an appointment at your local CAB for help. So you’ve known him one year - what’s his previous work history like?

I agree though, I would wait til he was 3 months into the next job before he moved in. Did the idea for him moving in come about before he found out about redundancy?

My sister moved a man in who was looking for work and he barely worked for years so be careful and get proper advice on what it means for you financially

Are you sure you're not in a UC area, almost all of the mainland UK is? Are you in NI?

Has your partner been in regular employment for the past few years? His entitlement to contributions based JSA will depend on that.

I’ve known him for 9 years as a friend then got together a year ago.

The idea of moving in together came before he got made redundant then when it happened we wondered if we could still do it but get support until he finds a job.

And his work history he has always had a job since he was 17 so he’s never not worked really

Okay thank you that makes much more sense.

We do not have savings above that amount no where near,
Thank you for your help

You should check about universal credit though, as Bombardier said.
If you input your postcode this will tell you
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/before-you-apply/Check-if-youre-eligible-for-Universal-Credit/

When he is working is he willing for you to give up your benefits and support you both?

Am pretty sure UC has been rolled out everywhere and you would me moved onto that rather than IS at least once contribution based new style JSA ended.

You would be able to claim jointly most likely.
When he gets a job, you will be relying almost entirely on him financially as your benefits will drop dramatically, are you both aware of that and happy with it? Have you discussed it?

Yes you need to model both the situation now, the situation if he’s still jobless in 6 months and the situation you’ll be in based on his rough salary for jobs he’s looking at. And you both need to do it together and consider if it’s still a good idea.

Why was he was redundant - does he need to retrain or upskill? The job search could force a move too.

if he moves in and doesn't have a job, you will have to stop your claim for income support and make a joint claim for Universal Credit. You can BOTH be required to seek employment or they will stop your benefits.

Given his shoddy work history, I'd leave him where he is at the minute. Him moving in wouldn't help you one jot unless he was earning enough so you didn't need to claim benefits at all.

NO. Just no.

Like others have said, wait until he is working and has held down the job for a good while before moving him in.