Do I need to declare.....

poppy_dozen

Hello everyone,

I currently get Incapacity Benefit (long-term) and DLA. I also get housing benefit and council tax benefits.

My question is that my long term and fully working partner is moving in with me - he will be paying the rent and council tax as soon as the moves happens in April however do I need to inform the DWP about him moving in with me, I would have though that as I get these 2 particular benefits this shouldn't make a difference to them...?

I really want to do this properly and upfront all the way as I have nothing to hide and don't want to get bitten on the backside a few months down the line because I supposedly didn't declare something (I am paranoid, but better to be safe than sorry).


Cheers everyone

TOBRUK

Yes is the answer. You have to let them know of any changes to your situation (it would have said at the bottom of the letter you received about IB) and as you will have someone living with you it will affect housing benefit and council tax. It will not make a difference to your DLA as this is not means tested.

healy

If your Incapacity Benefit is non-means tested as opposed to Income Support paid due to Incapacity you do not have to tell them unless you get married.

TOBRUK

I am ever so sorry if I got that wrong then, but I thought you were supposed to let them know of any change in circumstances - this used to be on my letters when I was on incapacity benefit.
Sorry again if I am wrong.

real1314

I don't think marriage affects IB either. Anyway, the simplest thing to do is to let them know of anything that might conceivably affect your benefit, and if it doesn't, they won't change it. Covers your back though, if they make a mistake.

suelees1

Both IB and DLA are not means tested. Someone moving in does not make any difference to your disability/incapacity so it wouldn't change the amounts you receive. You will have to tell the DWP and Local authority if you are claiming means tested benefits such as IS and HB/CTB if only to let them know you no longer want to claiming them. Don't forget to let them know if your circumstances have changed from being a single adult to a couple as this will make a difference to your council tax bill as you should have been awarded the 25% single adult discount whilst alone even if you weren't on any means tested benefits.

poppy_dozen

People, as always you never fail to help...... thank you so much. I have taken on-board all that's been said and think I will inform the DWP regardless just like Real1314 suggested.

Without fail I will be contacting the local council authority to get my housing and council tax benefits stopped. I will also inform them that we will be a couple and therefore will have to pay the full amount asap.

Cheers

Morglin

Let them know, but your change of circumstances will have no impact on IB or DLA, as they are non means-tested.

Lin

seven-day-weekend

Although this has no bearing on the OP, I would just like to point out that although IB is not means-tested as regards savings or most family income, it IS reduced if you have an occupational pension of over £85 pw if you started receiving it after 2001.

It is reduced by 50p for every £1 above that amount.

Just FYI.

Morglin

Yes, it does reduce with OP's, unless you also recieve DLA Care component at the Highest Rate.

But, neither are affected by savings.

Lin

jacnorm

We get housing/ctax benefit and my husband gets IA/DLA and we have two of our kids still at home and both working. We do have to let the local housing office know their income but, its discounted as anyone living in the same house as anyone getting DLA care is classed as doing their bit to help the disabled person so, they should not be penalised by haveing to pay to live there. This has been the case for two year for us.