Have lost ALL of my Universal Credit Award now partner moved in

[Fedupofthestruggle]

I have lived on my own with my disabled son for 18 months and had universal credit awarded including disabled element and carer element. I am his sole carer.

My partner has now moved in and we told universal credit. They of course needed to know his salary and any assets. He owns a flat (tiny, so we couldn't move in as there's no space for a family and disabled child). Universal credit have said since it's worth over 16k we no longer are able to receive any money.

However my question is shouldn't I still receive carers and disabled element since I can't work to look after my son? I will go back to universal credit to confirm if this is correct but wanted advice from anyone in similar position. Thanks very much.

If he's taking steps to sell it then the capital can be disregarded for a few months.

It's possible his earnings might still be enough to mean you can't get any UC, but it could be worth using a benefit calculator to check what you'd get if UC ignored the value of the flat

I hope he's a good man op , and that he understands and accepts the position of responsibility he's now in.

I agree with this. I’d seek expert advice on your entitlements and options from Citizen’s Advice or a charity for children with disabilities.

Citizens Advice have a lot of online information, e.g. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/disability-living-allowance/before-you-claim-dla/claiming-dla/.

Realise you have a lot of responsibility, and probably little time, as a carer. But it’s always best to check the impact of making big life changes, such as moving in with a partner. I’d always advise women to be financially independent.

Have you informed Universal Credit that your partners’ flat is up for sale? It should be disregarded as a capital asset for six months while being sold or longer if reasonable.

Move the boyfriend back out.

That's a good thing. Too many women move men in with their kids way too soon.

Yes I think so too. Mind you at least OP notified UC, as some don't they have their bf stay and then he is not on the claim because well, he doesn't live there. And has somewhere else to go. It's all wrong as far as I'm concerned.

I have found a very good man, a man who has taken on me and my son. He would do anything for us. He supports me and cares for my son like he is his own. I am no longer struggling on my own and have love and laughter filling my life.
That's why he moved in, so we could be a family. I did not make this decision lightly, my son comes first and always will.

Partner said he will look for a better paid job and will try to sell his flat. He spent last night making up a spreadsheet of outgoings and how much he needs each month.

He absolutely hasn't failed us, we just simply didn't know his flat would stop 2 elements of universal credit - disabled and carer. That was my main reason for posting here.

Thank you for your helpful comments. I have taken them onboard.

All the best to you all x

Agree on this. Didn’t you check before you let this man move in?

If your living together as man and wife. If not you should declare him a lodger

He couldn’t do all that from his own place?

Doesn't stop it. It's a joint claim. He earns 2 much

Sorry I don't know anything about universal credit but seen he's still in nappies at 6 due to disability. Have you been referred to the continence team? In certain cases these can be provided so you don't have to pay for them, which will help a bit in terms of finances.

I'm aghast at how many posters think a couple living together should still receive benefits if their income is above the threshold, and will go to any lengths to get them back.

This is why I roll my eyes every time someone suggests a man should move in and pay 1/however much because the rest is not his responsibility 😒.

@Fedupofthestruggle , didn't you check any of the many calculators available before getting to this stage?

Is your partner contributing enough to cover the shortfall? You are, after all, and family now. If he's not, what's your next move?

Hopefully he's entirely supportive and between you, you can work out employment, childcare to facilitate you working and everything else that prevents you being worse off.

Kindly, at some point in the future, care may become the best option for him. I know you're not at that point at the moment, but please don't blindly say it will never happen.

My sibling is severely disabled and as my parents got older, the responsibilities, both mentally and physically, became harder and harder.

My sibling went into a residential home at 18 and is so, so happy. They get more care than they did at home because they have enough staff to be able to supervise the entire time. At home, my mum still had to go to the loo or do the washing.

On the nappy front, do you not get these on prescription? My sibling used to get pads through the NHS.

Other people have given more informed advice than me on the financial side of things, but I just wanted to share my first/second hand experience of seeing my parents go through the struggles of bringing up a disabled child.

Could you get a termtime job in a school? Even a couple of hours a day as a lunchtime assistant.

@Fedupofthestruggle in that case I wish you all the best. It sounds like you'll work it all out together

It's a tough life being both a parent and carer. For those that haven't lived it I can only describe it as staying in that newborn survival mode indefinitely. But add in a stronger child and multiple hospital appointments and forms in which you are constantly having to go over the things your child can't do and may never be able to. It's a full time job.

Be happy op. You deserve that.

Who said that?

They are living together as a couple. What you're suggesting is fraud...

Even if he sells the flat, the money from the flat will be in his savings. You won't be allowed to claim benefits apart from the carers allowance. I'd get an evening/weekend job, and pool your money together.