Disabled and moving in with partner...any help?

Saith

I have been unemployed for over a decade, I'm currently claiming ESA-SG and Housing Benefit - I attempted to claim PIP but after a four year battle I was denied. I live alone in a council property.

My partner is about to be made homeless, so we have to consider him moving in with me. He works two jobs, in a cafe and in a bar, so his hours can vary a little but it roughly amounts to full-time on minimum wage.

I just can't wrap my head around the idea that this would mean I would have zero financial independence. Never mind that the two of us are going to be expected to survive on one person's minimum wage. 

Am I missing something? Is there any support that we could get? 

Spoonie_Turtle

Saith said:

I have been unemployed for over a decade, I'm currently claiming ESA-SG and Housing Benefit - I attempted to claim PIP but after a four year battle I was denied. I live alone in a council property.

My partner is about to be made homeless, so we have to consider him moving in with me. He works two jobs, in a cafe and in a bar, so his hours can vary a little but it roughly amounts to full-time on minimum wage.

I just can't wrap my head around the idea that this would mean I would have zero financial independence. Never mind that the two of us are going to be expected to survive on one person's minimum wage. 

Am I missing something? Is there any support that we could get? 

Put your details into a benefits calculator to see if you'd be entitled to Universal Credit.  With your Support Group status you would be entitled to the LCWRA element and the work allowance which might well mean you are still entitled to some help.  It also includes help with housing costs.  

Did you have help with your PIP claim?  If you wanted to try claiming again we can try to point you in the right direction and advise.  While ESA and PIP are different benefits with different criteria, it's quite unusual for someone in the Support Group to not qualify for PIP. 

Saith

Did you have help with your PIP claim?  If you wanted to try claiming again we can try to point you in the right direction and advise.  While ESA and PIP are different benefits with different criteria, it's quite unusual for someone in the Support Group to not qualify for PIP. 

No, I had no help with my PIP claim.

I tried to find help for the tribunal but there was just none available, the pandemic didn't help matters re. help.

I didn't get the points I should have, but I've been told from others that it's pointless attempting to claim PIP again unless my condition worsens. 

Saith

FYI I've tried using a benefits calculator but between my legacy benefits and my partners unusual hours I'm not sure I'm getting the full picture. As it is benefits calculators say we'd get nothing. 

Spoonie_Turtle

Saith said:

Did you have help with your PIP claim?  If you wanted to try claiming again we can try to point you in the right direction and advise.  While ESA and PIP are different benefits with different criteria, it's quite unusual for someone in the Support Group to not qualify for PIP. 

No, I had no help with my PIP claim.

I tried to find help for the tribunal but there was just none available, the pandemic didn't help matters re. help.

I didn't get the points I should have, but I've been told from others that it's pointless attempting to claim PIP again unless my condition worsens. 

No that's wrong.  It's probably pointless if you're just going to say the same things as before, but if you are able to read up on PIP, the descriptors and how it's all assessed, you might be more successful.  It is possible that you're not entitled to anything but if that's the case then reading up on it you'd at least understand why.

UC a maximum award would consist of:
standard couple allowance £596.58 (if either of you are over 25)
LCWRA element £343.63
Housing element 1 bedroom https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/Secure/Search.aspx (should be the same as your current HB) unless you rent social housing, in which case it will be your whole rent amount.

You would have the work allowance of £293, which is how much of any earnings they ignore before making deductions.  After that, they deduct 63% of earnings from the UC payment.

What type of ESA do you currently claim?  If any of it is contribution-based then that would continue to be paid and would be deducted in full from UC, which along with full-time earnings most likely would leave you no entitlement to UC.  However if any of your ESA is contribution-based then it wouldn't be affected by a partner moving in anyway, only any income-related part.  (I think I just assumed it was all income-related because your post seemed to imply it would stop.)  Unfortunately unless you know for absolutely certain already, the only way to find out what type of ESA you receive is to phone DWP because the letters are basically impossible to decipher!

Saith

I have income-based ESA-SG

So, are you saying we may still get something if we apply for UC? Benefits calculators say no. 

In regards to the PIP I think I need help but have no one to help (CAB not an option either). I should have recieved points with what was said, but they seemed to ignore the points raised.

calcotti

Saith said: So, are you saying we may still get something if we apply for UC? Benefits calculators say no. 

What was said

Spoonie_Turtle said:  if any of your ESA is contribution-based then it wouldn't be affected by a partner moving in anyway, only any income-related part. 

If any of the ESA is contribution based you will continue to get that ESA. What you need to be clear about is whether the ESA is entirely income based or is part contribution based and part income based. As also advised

Spoonie_Turtle said:.. unless you know for absolutely certain already, the only way to find out what type of ESA you receive is to phone DWP because the letters are basically impossible to decipher!

MattMattMattUK

Saith said:

I have income-based ESA-SG

So, are you saying we may still get something if we apply for UC? Benefits calculators say no. 

In regards to the PIP I think I need help but have no one to help (CAB not an option either). I should have recieved points with what was said, but they seemed to ignore the points raised.

No one can say for sure without yours and your partner's exact circumstances, which you should not put on here. The benefits calculators are usually accurate for straight forward cases, but not always for more complicated cases, have you tried a few to see if they give the same results?

Rubyroobs

You need to find out from ESA whether any of your ESA is contributions based. If it is then this can continue.