Universal credit joint to single claim

Jodie365

Hi, myself and my now ex-partner recently made and are receiving a joint universal credit claim. We are in privately rented accommodation with both names on the tenancy. He has now left me and my daughter and I will be contacting DWP to switch from a joint to single claim. I Know I would need to start a new claim with a new assessment period but would I need to go into the job center again for another interview? Will they want our tenancy to be in just my name, I’m worried il have to leave my home. I’m not sure how it all works moving from a joint to a single claim. Any help will be much appreciated.

Thank you.

huckster

If you have an online Universal Credit claim, you log in to your claim and report the change - end of relationship. Once you go through the information, the claim will become a single claim. Your ex will need to log in to their account to report changes as well, so their account is updated as well.

In regard to the tenancy, this becomes what is called an untidy tenancy, where one tenant does not live at the address. If your landlord is happy to change the tenancy agreement, then that would be great. If not phone Universal Credit and they will explain what you need to do. But contact landlord first. You will need to resolve this, as it could well affect Housing entitlement amount.

calcotti

Jodie365 wrote: »

I Know I would need to start a new claim with a new assessment period . .

Seems to depend who tells the DWP first.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/what-youll-need-to-do-on-universal-credit/check-if-a-change-affects-your-universal-credit/

"If you split up with your partner
Whoever tells the DWP that you've split up will need to start a new claim.
If your ex-partner told the DWP first, your Universal Credit claim will continue. Your next Universal Credit payment will be on the same day of the month but will be for a single person.
You should also tell the DWP about any other changes as a result of splitting up - like changes to address."

TELLIT01

calcotti wrote: »

Seems to depend who tells the DWP first.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/what-youll-need-to-do-on-universal-credit/check-if-a-change-affects-your-universal-credit/

"If you split up with your partner
Whoever tells the DWP that you've split up will need to start a new claim.
If your ex-partner told the DWP first, your Universal Credit claim will continue. Your next Universal Credit payment will be on the same day of the month but will be for a single person.
You should also tell the DWP about any other changes as a result of splitting up - like changes to address."

Seems unfair that the person who actually does the right thing and informs DWP will be the one who has to jump through all the hoops to make a new claim. Will a new claim result in the claimant having to wait many weeks for their first payment?
I'm not suggesting that the information provided is wrong, just that it would seem to actively discourage claimants from informing DWP of the change, and hoping the ex-partner does it.

calcotti

TELLIT01 wrote: »

Seems unfair that the person who actually does the right thing and informs DWP will be the one who has to jump through all the hoops to make a new claim. Will a new claim result in the claimant having to wait many weeks for their first payment?
I'm not suggesting that the information provided is wrong, just that it would seem to actively discourage claimants from informing DWP of the change, and hoping the ex-partner does it.

Completely agree - seems to be the wrong way around. In fact the idea that either party has to make a new claim seems unnecessary given that a couples claim is essentially two single claims which are linked. I would understand the need to do a rapid reclaim to confirm that you still want to receive UC but a completely new claim seems an extra hoop for claimants to go through - but UC has a lot of those.

calcotti

Actually having looked further I am not sure the advice on the Citizens Advice website is correct. I found this in Advice to Decision Makers https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/602462/adma2.pdf

Paragraph 2036 says
!!!8220;Where an award of UC to joint claimants is terminated because they cease to be a couple then no claim to UC is required by the member of the former couple who
1. does not notify that they have ceased to be a couple where the other former member of the couple has already so notified or
2. is the second of them to notify that they have ceased to be a couple.
1 UC, PIP, JSA & ESA (C&P) Regs, reg 9(6)
Note: This only applies to Live Service claimants !!!8211; see ADM M3. For Digital Service claimants the regulation is modified so that
Where an award of UC to joint claimants is terminated because they cease to be a couple an award of UC may be made without a claim to either or each one of them
1. as a single person or
2. if either of them has formed a new couple with a person who is already
entitled to UC, jointly with that person.!!!8220;

I think this means that the Citizens Advice information is only applicable in a live service area and that in a full service area neither party has to make a new claim.

huckster

From what I have seen, end of relationship disclosure on UC full service triggers the claims to be separated. Each then have to run through the to-do lists and confirm the information. One of the parties will have to have new Bank details verified. There will be new housing etc.

Just follow the process on the claim. If in doubt give UC a call.