Housing benefit with partner?

Fenrir

Hi there

I currently receive ESA and PIP. My partner and I have recently begun discussing getting our own place together. She earns just short of £12000 a year from work. My question is, can I claim housing benefit for the house while she is living with me? Or would we be classed as earning too much?

Thank you very much.

nannytone_2

housing benefit will be calculated on household income, so your girlfriends income will be taken into consideration.
is your ESA contributions based or income related?

Fenrir

My ESA is income related. All these benefit things confuse me . Thanks for your reply.

Robbie64

Fenrir wrote: »

My ESA is income related. All these benefit things confuse me . Thanks for your reply.

If your ESA is income related then this will be affected as you will be means tested on the income and earnings both your and your girlfriend have. If your girlfriend works 24 hours or more each week then you not be able to claim any ESA. However even if she doesn't work 24 hours, her income is probably far too high anyway for you to get ESA.