Moving City / Borough while claiming benefits / Universal Credit, Help?!

Jamor9877

Hi everyone,



I am due to move to a new city in September (5 Months from now) with my girlfriend who is a full time student into a one bed house, does anyone know how this change will affect my universal credit claim? Will i have to start a new claim? Or does anyone know if my partners student loan will affect the benefit? As i mentioned she is a full time student and I am currently living with a friend and i am claiming Universal Credit. How long before i am due to move do i show / tell the job centre / DWP my new contract? Not sure if this makes any difference but i will be moving from Stoke-on-Trent to Salford, Manchester.



Any help or advice would be absolutely hugely appreciated!



Thank You!


J

poppy12345

Jamor9877 wrote: »

Hi everyone,



I am due to move to a new city in September (5 Months from now) with my girlfriend who is a full time student into a one bed house, does anyone know how this change will affect my universal credit claim? Will i have to start a new claim? Or does anyone know if my partners student loan will affect the benefit? As i mentioned she is a full time student and I am currently living with a friend and i am claiming Universal Credit. How long before i am due to move do i show / tell the job centre / DWP my new contract? Not sure if this makes any difference but i will be moving from Stoke-on-Trent to Salford, Manchester.



Any help or advice would be absolutely hugely appreciated!



Thank You!


J

When you move in with your girlfriend you will claim UC as a couple and her student loan will be classed as income.

Jamor9877

Hi! Thanks so much for your quick response, this is why I am slightly confused as according to Gov.uk if one of you is in full time education then a joint claim cannot be made, thanks, j

Ineededaname

Where did you see that? The gov website seems to say the opposite here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-and-students

'You may be able to get Universal Credit if you’re studying full-time and any of the following apply:
you live with your partner and they’re eligible for Universal Credit'

You won't need to make a new claim, but your girlfriend would need to make one. You would report the change that you have a partner and the change in address, and link the claims together. They will then transfer your claim to Manchester. You can't officialy report a change in advance, so you would do all this as soon as possible when you have actually moved.

A portion of her student income would be classed as income on the claim during term time, but they stop taking this deduction in summer. See this for a basic overview:
https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Student-income-Universal-Credit
She can be asked to look for work in summer, but won't have to do anything in term time.

It's pretty hard to estimate your payments in advance. Assuming you are searching for work, it may be worth thinking about trying to apply for large national chains that may be able to transfer you to the new area.