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.

It's not that him moving in has stopped those parts of your UC. UC is made up of elements and it reduces based on household income/savings - unfortunately no element is protected. It will be the asset of the other property that has reduced your UC to zero.

The best thing your partner could do is sell the flat & look at purchasing a suitable home for you all to live in you may find this might entitle you to UC again there are calculators you can run putting in his salary and the elements you received to check. Either that or rent the flat to bring in a higher household income. As others have said apply for carers allowance at least for your NI stamp while you don't work

You can apply for carers allowance, this is a stand alone benefit not linked to your dps income only yours. It's not a huge amount but it's a tank of petrol or a basket of shopping.

If your son is 6 and still in nappies for medical/disability reasons you can get them funded for daytime use.

Even if her DS went to school she has to be available for appointments and also disabled children do tend to catch more illnesses, especially from school.
It’s not just about working but having an employer who would tolerate you being off.

The only way this can work for you is if your dp covers the uc you have lost as his rent plus contributions to food costs otherwise you are better off living separately

Don’t know much about the benefit system. I would expect them to cut your UC but not the elements relating to your disabled child. Are there separate benefits that you can apply for?

As far as work, look to see if you can get admin work at orgs like churches, they often need a few hours a week done and are flexible compared to businesses, plus will be compassionate. You can earn a certain amount each week before it affects carers allowance, again, it isn't a lot but everything adds up

It's great that you and DP are in this together. Hopefully you will find a way to make this work and live happily together.

Op he needs to move back into his flat officially and just spend over night visits at yours. Officially and legally kick him out. And don't let him move back into unless he's marrying you. You need to protect yourself and your child.

I agree. Only move in after marriage and full financial disclosure before marriage. You have to much to lose otherwise

but they’re not married so she has no legal right to his asset.
yes cohabiting couples should support each other because otherwise what is the point of living together.

but if they were to split up then she wouldn’t be entitled to anything he owned.

the benefits rules and the law should either agree that cohabiting couples have rights or not. And apply the same consistency.

Same difference. When a woman caring for a disabled child loses UC because she lives with a man, she is made vulnerable to financial and other abuse, making it wiser for her to stay single.

I’d also add here that if / when he sells, should there be any money made then she still doesn’t have any right to it even though no doubt the benefits system says he should use it to support them.

regardless of moral duty, you are either legally contractually joined through marriage or you aren’t.

OP, definitely do not let yourself be moved to a property he solely owns without getting married 1st. You would be financially very vulnerable and be in the worst of all worlds as a PP said, reliant on a man who owes you nothing if he so decides it.

Also ridiculous because a lodger would be paying rent and that will be classed as your income thus defeating the object

His assets would still be over the £16K threshold so once he moves in OP would still get her UC cancelled

@Fedupofthestruggle
How much does your partner earn? If you're willing to share that info, I could give you a rough indication of how much UC you would be entitled to as a family, if his flat was ignored.

You said that he is trying to sell the flat, and in that case, UC should ignore it for up to 6 months while he trying to sell it.
(See https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/savings)
You need to challenge the decision to stop your Universal Credits, explain that he is selling the flat and it should be disregarded. To do this, you have to request a Mandatory Reconsideration - see https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/problems-with-your-payment/challenging-a-universal-credit-decision-mandatory-consideration/

After he has sold the flat, it might be worth exploring the possibility of buying somewhere suitable together, perhaps through shared ownership (ie part buy, part rent) if there are any schemes in your area.

Remember also that your Council Tax is affected by him moving in. You should notify the council if you haven't yet done so.

Do you have a council/HA tenancy?

So is the flat just sitting empty?

The problem with working part time as some have suggested, as the OP herself has done, is that you would be at risk of losing Carers Allowance, and not being in a position to receive top up in-work benefits, because of UC's rules on capital.

It's a very unfair system for many reasons, including this.

Women also need to be aware that if they leave a partner and have their name on a house, they will also struggle to claim UC even if the ex is totally unco-operative and digs his heels in to prevent a sale. The capital rule, even if you're not in a position to benefit from it, screws so many women and children over.

Boyfriend needs to move out what were you thinking. Better to be dependant on the system Rather than a boyfriend anyway.

Itsnotallaboutyoulikeyouthink · Today 11:50

Boyfriend needs to move out what were you thinking. Better to be dependant on the system Rather than a boyfriend anyway

Why?

You should still get DLA and carers allowance and child benefit providing his wage isn't over the threshold for child benefit.

So I can see why the welfare system needs to change

If he's a decent man then they've just progressed to being a family unit. If they separate she will get state support again.

Have a look at supermarket jobs, they often have part time evening shifts and ones like tesco or asda will give you a grocery and clothing discount which is helpful financially.

He sounds like a goodun’ @Fedupofthestruggle

Maybe this is why there is so much anger towards people who are on benefits do you think? Better to be dependant on the system! This attitude also doesn't help with the housing situation where people stay in relationships but due to it being better to be dependant on the system they live in separate properties