benefit advice and a possible moving in together

fairywing

I am currently on esa (support group) which I believe is the non means tested element of esa ( clarification would be appreciated)

my partner who I don't live with is on income support and receives a disability premium on top of the income support.

There is talk of moving in together and I am looking for advice as to what happens with regards to benefits.

I don't want to worsen his financial income because I am on esa so I am not sure how claims are effected when people move in together.

Can I choose to end my esa claim and then claim joint income support with him?

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

pmlindyloo

fairywing wrote: »

I am currently on esa (support group) which I believe is the non means tested element of esa ( clarification would be appreciated)

my partner who I don't live with is on income support and receives a disability premium on top of the income support.

There is talk of moving in together and I am looking for advice as to what happens with regards to benefits.

I don't want to worsen his financial income because I am on esa so I am not sure how claims are effected when people move in together.

Can I choose to end my esa claim and then claim joint income support with him?

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I'm sorry but I don't know the answer to this but thought I would 'bump' it up the page so it doesn't get lost and wait for the more knowledgeable people to come along.

I do know that if you move in together then you may have to make joint claims. However, because you are on a contribution based benefit and your OH is on an income based one I am not sure what happens in these cases.

You could ring the Job Centre and or CAB and ask.

One thing I do know is that when you change your HB and CTB claim over to a joint one then you need to consider who puts the claim in to maximise your entitlement.

If noone can help here then speak to CAB or Job Centre Plus.

nannytone_2

you would go onto a joint clai.

if you were transferred from IB to ESA, and put in the support group, then you will be on contribution based ESA, but you would get an incom,e based 'top up' for your partner.

rogerblack

As above - however - if you came onto ESA from IS, then you will be on income-related JSA, which is means-tested, and will be affected.

Or if from fulltime work, conts-again, which is now.

You must report moving in together with someone as a couple. Even if it does not change the amount of total benefit you get.
(and in this case it will, though I am unsure in what direction, probably downwards)

fairywing

thankyou for the replies.

I was transferred over from incapacity benefit to esa (support group)

I am just unsure as to what claim needs stopped (my esa or the income support for my partner if we do go ahead and move in together)

I am waiting for a call back from citizens advice but they have been busy and it obviously won't be until next week now before I am able to speak to them but I am not in a great hurry.

I read that you can't be in esa if a partner gets income support so I am still wondering if the responsibility lies with me to cancel esa and then for my partner to add me to the income support claim?

I am just keen to get the proper facts so we know how to manage the issue correctly if and when the time comes.

nannytone_2

the easiest route is to stop your partners IS claim and add them to your ESA claim

sunnyone

On what basis is your partner on ESA?

If its for incapcity you might be better off waiting for them to be transfered over to ESA as there is then the possiblity of incresed income depending on your other cers.