Forced to move home due to disability - can my partner get assistance?

I-Owe-You

Hello all,

I'd really appreciate your advise.

Both me & My partner work full time (both earn around 17k a year each)
We lived together in a one bedroom flat on the 2nd floor which is unlifted for around a year. I am disabled (Meniere's disease) and progressively transfers and stairs became a struggle on my bad days. Getting in and out of our flat became a problem for me as there our no lift facilities...we decided reluctantly that I should move back with my parents who are on the ground floor until we can find somewhere more appropriate. (we are now on the council waiting list but unfortunately working, childless couples are not deemed priority in my borough!)

Anyway, My partner continues to live in this flat on his own and the rent is £860 a month (supposedly subsidised as he is a keyworker) & £1200 a year in council tax... He has two children from a previous relationship which he pays £300 a month to his ex partner and everything is civil and fantastic there.

Money is really tight, I do help out where I can and am also in receipt of DLA. My partner has been my rock through my recent health deteriration and whilst he has never complained, I know the change in MY situation is beginning to have an affect on him, especially financially...which is upsetting for me. I hate that fact he is penalised because of my disability (I am also profoundly deaf)

I am new to benefits, neither of us, nor our parents have ever claimed before. Can someone tell me whenever my partner would be entitled to any financial support, as we no longer live together at present although remain "a couple?"

He is quite a proud person, and as we come from an area where a lot of people take advantage of the benefit system, and perhaps use it as a way of life, it would take a lot for him to ask about finacial assistance... I am angry at him for this as we have both worked since leaving school (I still work despite my disabilities)

Because we are in a relationship and both working would the onus be on me to also pay a % of the bills? As I said I do help out where I can, but cannot afford to pay 50% of rent for somewhere I am not living. (as well as pay my parents for my keep at their house) Would I be expected to pay for the flat by the DWP?

Before you tell my partner to move house, we live in London so most rent is astronomical unless you are able to get social housing (which we wont - we have tried for prioritisation on health grounds) My partner is also a nurse at the local hospital so we need to stay within the local area for work. To address our frustration further we also spent a small fortune on furniture and decoration (although I know this is the least of our worries - just frustrating)

Can my partner claim any benefits as a short term solution until we find or are offered somewhere suitable - or are we penalised as we are a couple who both work full time, despite no longer living together?

I just want to stress that I didnt just move out and leave my partner in the lurch, we wanted to stay living together but it became psychically impossible for me. We decided together and agreed that I would be best off back at my parents..

Any advise would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

[Deleted User]

ok as you are still a couple you will be treated as a couple as far as benefits go,the only thing I can think off is if he can prove beyond doubt that he is living in the flat alone then he maybe able to get a 25% reduction in council tax.
What I cant understand is why you bought a 2nd floor flat in the first place as recently as last year???

Oscar_The_Grouch

woodbine wrote: »

What I cant understand is why you bought a 2nd floor flat in the first place as recently as last year???

I think it's rented. OP can you confirm?

Now £17k does not sound like a big wage for London. Is there any way you would consider looking for work and somewhere to live further out? You could easily reduce your rent/tax costs by moving outside the M25 and probably still keep your wage at £17k. There are office admin jobs in West Malling paying £16k as a starting wage!! Rents are much cheaper!!

Even if you wanted to meet up with friends in London, the train services from just outside the M25 are almost universally 25 minute journeys and cost about a fiver off peak - less if you have a railcard.

Moving on to DLA and benefits, you mention that your condition is worsening. Can you get re-assessed and see if you are entitled to some carers allowance for OH?

I hope things improve for you soon.

Savvy_Sue

Oscar_The_Grouch wrote: »

less if you have a railcard.

and with a hearing aid you can get a Disabled Person's railcard which gives reductions for you and a companion.

krisskross

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

and with a hearing aid you can get a Disabled Person's railcard which gives reductions for you and a companion.

These are brilliant. We have one as my husband is profoundly deaf. Coincidentally (or perhaps not) he also has Menieres disease.

Antway it is £18 a year or I believe 3 years for the price of 2 and we get about 1/3 off train fares. We use ours a lot.

kingfisherblue

OP's partneer won't get Carer's Allowance if he earns £17k a year

sunnyone

Wheelchair users can get conssesion without a railcard, 1/3 off walk on singles or 1/2 on returns.