Moving to universal credit, partner moving in.

[Lozza555]

I'm currently claiming working and child tax credit and housing benefit, I'm on maternity leave and going back to work in April.

My partner is going to be moving in with me and our son over the weekend.

Do I need to phone tax credits/housing and let them know or do I just do my claim for universal credit and the tax credits/housing I get now will stop automatically?

Thanks.

Did you have a joint claim before? If he’s the parent of the child then you really should have done despite him not living with you as you are a couple?

We split up before I knew I was pregnant. Got back together about 3 weeks ago.

He has his own place, claiming no benefits.

He's not stayed over night has I wouldn't allow it due to my benefit claims. Just comes over in the day before work every other day or so.

I’d speak to tax credits and housing to ask their advice. I’ve seen other posters say they’ve still revived payments after submitting their UC claim and then had hefty overpayments to deal with.

Also just be prepared they may investigate your case because of the circumstance (I have a family member who works for HMRC who said they seebthese scenarios a lot and 9/10 it was fraud)

OK thank you

Patrick Jane is completely wrong, you do not do a joint claim if you live separately. Lots are people in with boyfriend don't live together and do not claim together. if you lived apart and even if he stayed two nights etc but you did not share bills and he did not live with you, then you were a single benefits claimant.

You were broken up and then got back together even this is not relevant, what is relevant is if he had moved in and started sharing bills and money with you. He has not done so. Just be prepared to show his name and address, ie the address that is separate to yours.

Also if you are on tax credit and working tax credits then check on Turntous.com, about which situations trigger a change to universal credit. Some changes do and with some changes you stay on tax credits.

Put both your incomes into entitledto.com and then you can get a clearer idea. Do not end your tax credit claim without getting all the info as there is no going back and do not take advice from the Dwp, go to cab etc as the dwp have knowingly given out the wrong advice to many about universal credit causing needless hardship.

Also hold off a little bit of time before he moves in and get all the info correct and make sure that you are both financially better off for doing so and that you have discussed how much he needs to pay in because you have lost benefit, etc.

Op stay on tax credits if at all possible as universal credit is a mess. You may lose some tax credits and housing benefit as they will take his income in account but you may also stay on there both even when they take account of his income if his income is low.

Put all your figures into entitledto.com and have a budgeting conversation looking at all income and expenditure before you make a final decision.

@flirtygirl Adding a partner to a tax credits claim is no longer possible. The OP must claim UC if she wants to continue claiming benefits.

Couple of links you could look at on universal credit
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/

www.turn2us.org.uk/

all I can say from my own experience is the day I declared I was in a long term relationship with my partner I was cut off from any benefits after 6 months. Withstanding the embarrassing time at the post office of the shock of having no money. I phoned them up and complained and then got the letter 2wks later.
Universal credit will class you as a household NOT individual people. READ everything you can about universal credit before taking the step to move onto it. Stay on JSA as long as you can as housing benefit is removed for many indivuals who's benefits go over £500! You don't get housing benefit if you have more than that. So consider your 'STEP' seriously and carefully.

Libraries have a copy of a book called:

Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook 2018/2019

This book is worth looking at. You can only read it in the library as is often a reference copy. There are second-hand copies available online at a cost.

Please don't risk your financial security by rushing to move him in. Give it time, let him prove himself to be a dedicated partner and parent. Do your sums.

Thank you so much everyone for your replies and links I'll take your advice. I'v checked the calculators and it seems that'll we'll be OK with what we will receive. It's just the long wait for a payment especially with me been on crap maternity pay.

That's good news op, that's why I said to check before you make the move as some changes trigger universal credit but if the numbers work for you then that's good.

Good luck.

Can I have some help please! I’m currently living alone with my nearly 10 month old and claiming universal credit including the child element, I’m just recently got back with her father and we’re looking at moving in to a house together, he works full time, I know it will effect my universal credit but doesn’t anybody know how much it will effect it, thanks in advance

You're better off doing your own thread @Amberrose28

A joint claim will mean moving to UC.