Moving in with a partner while claiming working tax credits

Haz22

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice please? I was working self employed while claiming tax credits (as a single person) I've recently found out I'm pregnant and will be making a go of things and moving in with babys dad in the summer. I understand that we'd have to claim as a couple but he is on a decent wage, so wouldn't qualify. I was wondering if there is any other help I can get? It's early days and I'll still need to pay bills. As a side note I'm really struggling with income as it is, due to lack of work with covid and am really worried!

Thank you

calcotti

As soon as you move in you must tell Tax Credits. That will end your claim as a single person. You will not be able to make a new claim as a couple because Tax Credits are closed to new claims having been replaced by Universal Credit.

Use a benefit calculator to check entitlement https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators. 

If he is on a decent income such that there is no benefit entitlement he is expected to support you.

look also at Maternity Allowance https://www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance
if claiming UC any MA is deducted from the amount of UC payable.

Haz22

Thank you for your reply.

I'll have a look into UC. I have my own bills to pay, not even including rent and household bills and I'm not in a situation where I can move in and say I expect you to pay my rent and personal bills too and to be honest I doubt he could afford that anyway. If it wasn't for covid I would have tried to scrape by on my work without working tax credits but I hardly have any work coming in. Are there any other options?

KatrinaWaves

Haz22 said:

Thank you for your reply.

I'll have a look into UC. I have my own bills to pay, not even including rent and household bills and I'm not in a situation where I can move in and say I expect you to pay my rent and personal bills too and to be honest I doubt he could afford that anyway. If it wasn't for covid I would have tried to scrape by on my work without working tax credits but I hardly have any work coming in. Are there any other options?

If his income is too much for UC, then he is expected to support his partner and child. You cannot move in with a partner whilst pregnant whilst still claiming single person benefits. 

The only other option is to not move in. 

Haz22

Yes, obviously I know that I can't claim single person benefits while living with a partner.

I think I'll have to think about not moving in, which will be a huge struggle staying in my current situation. Do you know what my options would be then? (with regards to not working with some of my clients at the moment)

calcotti

Haz22 said:

Yes, obviously I know that I can't claim single person benefits while living with a partner.

I think I'll have to think about not moving in, which will be a huge struggle staying in my current situation. Do you know what my options would be then? (with regards to not working with some of my clients at the moment)

Please follow the links I provided earlier before deciding what to do. In order to use the calculator you will need to know about your partner's finances.