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Forced to claim as a couple (Partner is student)
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littleboots13
Posts: 6 Forumite
Hi,
I have been recieving UC (£317) for a couple of months since being out of work. As of October my parter has moved in with me, I informed them of this and they said I have no choice and have to make a joint claim. She is a full time student who lives off her maintenance loan as she's currently swamped with uni projects so isn't going to be looking for work until that dies down. She doesn't want anything to do with UC and we don't share money. Her loan is £8944 per year. After her bills, travel and what she needs for uni gets paid out each month she barely has anything left. I have been told that they are going to take her loan into account and now i'm concerend they are going to say we have enough money and reject our claim, as her loan works out more monthly than what they pay out for a regular couples claim currently. I can't seem to find any information on this and we don't have an appointment with them untl next Thursday so i'm stuck wondering and worrying. I am getting really concerned as I can't afford to be rejected and my partner can't afford to pay my bills and buy my food as well as hers. Does anyone have any infomation on this at all so i know what to expect? Thanks for you time.
I have been recieving UC (£317) for a couple of months since being out of work. As of October my parter has moved in with me, I informed them of this and they said I have no choice and have to make a joint claim. She is a full time student who lives off her maintenance loan as she's currently swamped with uni projects so isn't going to be looking for work until that dies down. She doesn't want anything to do with UC and we don't share money. Her loan is £8944 per year. After her bills, travel and what she needs for uni gets paid out each month she barely has anything left. I have been told that they are going to take her loan into account and now i'm concerend they are going to say we have enough money and reject our claim, as her loan works out more monthly than what they pay out for a regular couples claim currently. I can't seem to find any information on this and we don't have an appointment with them untl next Thursday so i'm stuck wondering and worrying. I am getting really concerned as I can't afford to be rejected and my partner can't afford to pay my bills and buy my food as well as hers. Does anyone have any infomation on this at all so i know what to expect? Thanks for you time.
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Comments
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If you are a couple then your claim must be assessed as a couple. Her student loan will be taken into account. Your joint allowance will be £498/month.
I infer that you do not rent if no help for rent is included in your UC.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-and-studentsInformation I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Some rules may be different in other parts of UK.0 -
Hi, thanks for your reply. I am aware that we are now being assessed as a couple and her loan is being taken into account. I am asking for further information on whether the claim will be refused due to it, or how they work it out?0
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Sorry if that wasn’t clear. Your allowance is £498. Her student maintenance loan will be converted into a monthly amount and deducted from your maximum UC entitlement. The link provides more information. On the face of it there may well be no ongoing entitlement to UC.Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Some rules may be different in other parts of UK.0
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Have a good read of the link on calcottis's post #20
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If you are a couple then your claim must be assessed as a couple. Her student loan will be taken into account. Your joint allowance will be £498/month.
I infer that you do not rent if no help for rent is included in your UC.
So if her loan works out roughly £745 per month (she gets it every 4 months so it differs), but because that is more than £498 per month that means we wont be entitled to claim?0 -
littleboots13 wrote: »
So if her loan works out roughly £745 per month (she gets it every 4 months so it differs), but because that is more than £498 per month that means we wont be entitled to claim?
If you've received any UC since your partner moved in then you will have an overpayment.0 -
Will they not take into consideration my partners outgoings before making the assumtion I can afford to live off her too? She barely has enough for food each month and now is going to be expected to pay for me too. Seems a terribly unfair system. More so to her for having to be dragged into this and expected to cover for me.0
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littleboots13 wrote: »Will they not take into consideration my partners outgoings before making the assumtion I can afford to live off her too? She barely has enough for food each month and now is going to be expected to pay for me too. Seems a terribly unfair system. More so to her for having to be dragged into this and expected to cover for me.0
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Nothing official. We have had to move into my mothers spare bedroom, we pay her directly.0
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littleboots13 wrote: »Nothing official. We have had to move into my mothers spare bedroom, we pay her directly.0
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