Benefits Blues

chemer2011

Hi there,

Thank you for reading this. My girlfriend moved in with me recently. I am on DLA lower rates for care and mobility, IB and single room rate for Housing Benefit even though its a 2 bed flat.

She has no income of her own and we have been told if I claim for her that we could be worse off.

What exactly do I do. I have applied for a change of circumstances and hope the Local Gov allow us the 2 bed rate which is slightly more with ctax benefit in full.

Obviously because she is not claiming anything then I get nothing at all from her. I do not mind this but she feels like she is sponging off me and desperately wants to contribute to the household.

The welfare rights people at Local Gov were crap. They were totally useless and made her feel more depressed as to her options.

Please help thanks,

PS she has not got custody of the children and so that means she is on her own here. She was told she would be worse off if she claims any benefits or if I put her on my IB CLaim or something.

Steve and Annette

midnight_express

You need to notify your change of circumstances. All your means tested benefits should be in joint names. You should be entitled to the one bedroom LHA rate. Why isn't your partner working ? Is she looking for a job ? How is she be sponging off you when you are living on benefits?

chemer2011

She lost our baby and she is in bad shape. She is not mentally fit for work. I have iB which is not means tested but her JSA would be discounted due to my IB.

She also lost her children due to taking an overdose due to post natal depression. So really she needs to get fit and healthy before she can return to the work place.

As for me I hope one day to be self employed.

Thanks,

Steve

midnight_express

She could try claiming ESA but it would take your income into account.. She can't claim JSA if she isn't fit for work

BigAunty

You can model the impact of her moving in on the Turn 2 us online benefit calculator. Do a before and after scenario, based on her not claiming anything versus the second scenario of the 1 bed LHA rate and your partner claiming ESA (EDIT, I previously wrote LHA here, not ESA). What is the difference in household income by not claiming for her versus claiming for her?

Your DLA will not be affected by anything she claims so you retain that in full. You have indicated that your IB isn't means tested so perhaps this also is excluded but perhaps other posters should confirm this?

You are entitled to the 1 bedroom rate for LHA as a couple. You can identify this on the Direct Gov website. How much does this leave you to top up the shortfall of your rent with your other benefits?

Apply for discretionary housing benefit for the difference.

JSA is only suitable if she is actively seeking work, therefore if she is too unwell to work, that leaves ESA for her to claim.

[Deleted User]

cont.bases IB wont be means tested,your GF should get signed off by her gp if unfit for work and claim esa

merlin68

If she's living with you it has to be a joint claim, for all benefits otherwise it's fraud. You should get an income support top up, which is what you need to claim. Which makes your income £105.95 a week.

dseventy

chemer2011 wrote: »

she feels like she is sponging off me and desperately wants to contribute to the household.

How can she contribute and not "sponge" if she can't get a job?

D70

BrettMorganxD

dseventy wrote: »

How can she contribute and not "sponge" if she can't get a job?

D70

That is why she is wanting to know what benefits she can claim d70. So she can help out the houshold.

mealone

chemer2011 wrote: »

Hi there,

Thank you for reading this. My girlfriend moved in with me recently. I am on DLA lower rates for care and mobility, IB and single room rate for Housing Benefit even though its a 2 bed flat.

She has no income of her own and we have been told if I claim for her that we could be worse off.

What exactly do I do. I have applied for a change of circumstances and hope the Local Gov allow us the 2 bed rate which is slightly more with ctax benefit in full.

Obviously because she is not claiming anything then I get nothing at all from her. I do not mind this but she feels like she is sponging off me and desperately wants to contribute to the household.

The welfare rights people at Local Gov were crap. They were totally useless and made her feel more depressed as to her options.

Please help thanks,

PS she has not got custody of the children and so that means she is on her own here. She was told she would be worse off if she claims any benefits or if I put her on my IB CLaim or something.

Steve and Annette

You wont get the two room rate because she is your girlfriend

If she hasnt paid the required NI contributions your choices are limited as your IB could be more than the law says you need to live on as a couple, do you have another account here as Im pretty sure there is a couple with almost identical cercs. who have posted here in the past and they had very, very limited options as do you two.

bobajob_1966

BrettMorganxD wrote: »

That is why she is wanting to know what benefits she can claim d70. So she can help out the houshold.

I imagine D70 was referring to 'sponging' off the state as opposed to doing so off her bf.

(Before anyone starts moaning, I am not calling her a sponger - simply reiterating what the OP said.)