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.

You are right, and what I said is also true.

Only if they are married. They aren't.

She's not dependant on him, she can go back to state benefits at any point she wants to leave him.
If he beats her up that's an entirely separate issue and for the police to deal with, the same as if the biological dad did it.
A disabled child (and often any child) having 2 adults in the house is on the whole far more beneficial to them than 1 providing the other adult is suitable, which presumably she has decided he is to move him in.
Also generally people are financially better of and less likely to be bringing up children in poverty with 2 adults in the house and off state benefits.

If your child is 6 aren't they in school at least 25 hours a week? Couldn't you get a part time job or work at the weekend? Everyone has to care for their children disabled or not but most understand you work to provide for your children rather than rely on government to fund your life?

Yes, of course I understand that, but a number of people seem to think that selling his property will make them eligible for UC again - which, obviously, it won't!

But I don't need to understand the rules to simply share my experience and ask the OP if she might meet the exemption criteria.
I don't think the OP is expecting legal advice here and I don't need to understand every nuance of UC to share my experience.

When he sells it what will happen to the money? The reality is they aren’t going to support you in the way you were entitled as a single person because you no longer are.

I hope it goes well for you OP. Maybe even look at some kind of part time online remote work you could do from home when your partner is around. I think 16 hours nmw per week is the max you can work to still earn carer's allowance.

He would need to use the money to buy a suitable home for them all to live in. That's only way they might be one eligible and even then it depends what elements are awarded and the partners wage

You need to apply for carers allowance it’s 375 a month I thibk. I make him live in the flat he owns

If your son is 6 he will be at a special needs school full time so you can work,

@Jollyhockeystickss not necessarily. Some parents that have severely disabled children can't work because they don't get unbroken sleep longterm and have to go to bed when their child does as they don't settle until 11/12 even with melatonin. School time is the only free time they have and that time is often spent filling in forms , taking the child to medical appointments and getting some rest so that they can start the exhausting cycle all over again at 3pm. I can also only do housework during the school day as my child doesn't have any concept of safety and needs watching 24/7. I also cannot run the washing machine when he's home as it causes a terrible meltdown that takes hours to come back from.In my case I also have to take my child home for lunch as he's overstimulated in the playground and won't eat and drink at school.

It could be the same for op's child.

Are they living as a married couple is he paying for the child is he halfing all bills etc etc or is he paying token money and that's it. Context matters. Anyways nowt to do with me

It doesn't matter for a UC claim.

It will once their savings fall below 16k. The property may not have much equity.

It does if he's moved in and they live as man and wife it becomes a joint claim. If he earns to much the earnings are adjusted for house income. If he's paying minimal then he's lodging if he's living as man and wife equal share of bills then she won't need uc anyways

His flat will likely sell, it may have to be reduced in price if it's taking too long, but if it's reduced enough it'll get a buyer.

You need to be able to access those benefits for your son, which means you cant have a partner live with you unless he is willing to cover the costs.
That's how it works unfortunately. He will need to move back to his flat

I'm sorry but this is exactly right. My DH owns a house he rents out (for almost no profit) but because if that we weren't able to claim UC during COVID even though our actual income was below the threshold. It's rubbish when you're in that situation, but I do think it's right as you've got an asset.

Just find the partner's actions odd - it's strange, and very unadvisable, to jump off the property ladder in the UK (unless you're banking on a crash in the near future) in order to move in with your girlfriend.
I wonder if he's had an unpleasant shock in finding out they will be liable for full rent and that any substantial capital from the sale will preclude a UC claim? He might have been looking forward to an easier life with a girlfriend in receipt of benefits and have been genuinely unaware of how strict and tough the criteria now are. Afaik, tax credits allowed people to hold onto capital and to save, so perhaps he has an outdated notion of benefit rules & regulations.

For the purposes of universal credit (and other benefits) they are in a relationship and living together as a couple. It very much matters. If he didn’t give OP a penny towards the bills, his income is still classed as the household income and all benefit entitlement based on this.

I am divorced and have informed the dwp but they still have us as a joint claim on uc as we still live together. I work part-time but ex dh refuses to look for a job. I am coming into some money soon so will come off uc but I don't want to fund exdh. We still have one dc at school.

No, you weren't "simply sharing your experience". You said:

My understanding is that if you own property but do not profit from it, then it doesn't count as capital from a UC point of view.
If it was rented out for the exact amount of the mortgage payment then you may still get UC on your joint claim (depending on DP's salary and any other savings)

This is wrong. You might think this is the reason your property is disregarded, but it's not. It's probably disregarded because the equity in it is under £16k (and to work out the value of the capital, you can factor in the cost of selling it as well as the cost of paying off the mortgage). There are other exemptions too (see https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/savings) but having a mortgage no higher than the rental income is not one! You are still profiting from it - assuming you have a repayment mortgage. You're accumulating equity. And you have an asset that could be sold if necessary.

Just because you claim UC doesn't mean you understand it, and you should accept that you were wrong instead of arguing with people who point it out.

Sigh. Yes, I KNOW, which is why I posted this over four hours ago:

AngelicKaty - Today 15:55
No, that's wrong. UC eligibility is based on household income so, obviously, when OP's DP moved in her household income increased by everything he brought with him (i.e. capital, savings and earned income). With co-habiting couples, a UC claim is always a joint claim. For means-tested benefits, the household can have capital and/or savings up to £6k without it affecting the UC claim. Between £6k and £16k, the payment is reduced by £4.35 for every £250 between £6k and £16k. There is no eligibility for means-tested benefits when capital and savings exceed £16k so, obviously, with OP's DP owning a property, this limit is exceeded. Even if he sells his flat, he will have its value in savings, so the household will still exceed the £16k limit. As a couple, their household savings will need to drop below £16k before they can make a new joint claim for UC.

God, another one. 🙄 I KNOW, which is why I posted this over four hours ago:

AngelicKaty - Today 15:55
No, that's wrong. UC eligibility is based on household income so, obviously, when OP's DP moved in her household income increased by everything he brought with him (i.e. capital, savings and earned income). With co-habiting couples, a UC claim is always a joint claim. For means-tested benefits, the household can have capital and/or savings up to £6k without it affecting the UC claim. Between £6k and £16k, the payment is reduced by £4.35 for every £250 between £6k and £16k. There is no eligibility for means-tested benefits when capital and savings exceed £16k so, obviously, with OP's DP owning a property, this limit is exceeded. Even if he sells his flat, he will have its value in savings, so the household will still exceed the £16k limit. As a couple, their household savings will need to drop below £16k before they can make a new joint claim for UC.