Can't support partner

Azza75

I'm looking for some advice.

My partner gets income related esa and dla and is unable to work due to mental health. I work full time, earning £19,000 a year.

We would like to move in together, but he has been told that as I earn £19,000, his esa would be taken off him.

Unfortunately what I earn is not enough for me to support him and pay my mortgage and other bills.

Is there anything we can do that would allow us to move in with each other and live a happy life together?

huckster

Visit a benefits calculator website such as entitledto or Turn2us. See whether a joint Universal Credit (UC) claim would be an option. If he is in the ESA support group, then he should be in the equivalent LCWRA category under UC.

Darksparkle

What rate of DLA?

K80_Black

Azza75 wrote: »

Is there anything we can do that would allow us to move in with each other and live a happy life together?

I'm in a very similar situation - in my case, I am the one with the mental health problems.

What me and my partner have decided to do is a) save as much as possible now, while we both have incomes and b) I am preparing to go back to work part time .

I realise this won't be an option for everyone, as the severity of mental health problems differs greatly, but have a really good think if there are any types of jobs he may be able to do for 8-12 hours a week to supplement his DLA. I am going for low stress, lower paid options in areas I worked in before my MH problems. I did some voluntary work over the summer to see how I could cope, and although it was harder than I expected, I still just about managed.

Unfortunately it seems to be the only option I can see. It does really suck that the threshold for losing ESA is so low - it penalises people in our situation, as you often aren't eligible for things like tax credits unless you have children. It's like I'm being disadvantaged for being responsible and not bringing new life I can't afford into the world.

There are many things on this forum that can help you find areas to cut back on, and you might have to make some lifestyle changes. It's really not easy, but my partner and I have decided we'd rather live together poor than alone slightly less poor.

Darksparkle

K80_Black wrote: »

I'm in a very similar situation - in my case, I am the one with the mental health problems.

What me and my partner have decided to do is a) save as much as possible now, while we both have incomes and b) I am preparing to go back to work part time .

I realise this won't be an option for everyone, as the severity of mental health problems differs greatly, but have a really good think if there are any types of jobs he may be able to do for 8-12 hours a week to supplement his DLA. I am going for low stress, lower paid options in areas I worked in before my MH problems. I did some voluntary work over the summer to see how I could cope, and although it was harder than I expected, I still just about managed.

Unfortunately it seems to be the only option I can see. It does really suck that the threshold for losing ESA is so low - it penalises people in our situation, as you aren't eligible for things like tax credits unless you have children. It's like I'm being disadvantaged for being responsible and not bringing new life I can't afford into the world.

There are many things on this forum that can help you find areas to cut back on, and you might have to make some lifestyle changes. It's really not easy, but my partner and I have decided we'd rather live together poor than alone slightly less poor.

It is possible to claim working tax credits without children. It would be based on age, hours, disabilities and income.

K80_Black

Darksparkle wrote: »

It is possible to claim working tax credits without children. It would be based on age, hours, disabilities and income.

Not in my scenario. We are in a universal credit area and entitled to zero help. I'm not saying that will be the case for the OP or that they shouldn't take other people's advice to check entitled.to and similar sites.

Lioness_Twinkletoes

_shel wrote: »

So the point of this site and your reason for being here is what? If not to give advice!

Woah there tiger! S/he DID give advice and a useful scenario that bore some relation to the OP's problems. It's another angle to look at.

Not sure as to the reason for your ire, but it's very much misplaced in this instance.

pmlindyloo

Lioness_Twinkletoes wrote: »

Woah there tiger! S/he DID give advice and a useful scenario that bore some relation to the OP's problems. It's another angle to look at.

Not sure as to the reason for your ire, but it's very much misplaced in this instance.

To be fair I think Shel was referring to the phrase 'they shouldn't take other people's advice' to check benefit calculator site.

However, I think the 'shouldn't' was probably a typing error. Otherwise a bit of a daft thing to say as the OP may well be entitled to help through Universal Credit.

K80_Black

Yes, I wrote and they shouldn't take others advice, instead of 'or that they shouldn't take others advice.' They should of course check. Apologies. As I said, MH problems

charlotte1994

The current benefits system is shocking, my boyfriend lost his job and was out of work for 3 months, I earned less than £17k at the time and I really struggled to feed us both and pay rent etc, but they deemed that it was enough to support two people. Sorry for ranting, I would say that make up a budget spreadsheet and see how much you are under/over by and keep pushing them at the council and job centre. UC really needs to change but I would keep pushing them

HollySocks_2

_shel wrote: »

So the point of this site and your reason for being here is what? If not to give advice!

Not, in any way, helpful