Advice Needed - UC & Living together

LewisEd72

Hello,

I am seeking some advice as a matter of urgency. I will try and keep this as brief as possible.

Due to illness, I resigned from work in 2017. I visited the CAB who advised Appling for Universal Credit and Pip. The CAB officer applied on my behalf for both.

I was declined PIP initially,  but I had a family friend help with appeal for PIP and eventually, I was awarded it - I have mobility issues, as we all as epilepsy and comprehension problems. As well, as this, I suffer long term depression and anxiety.

 I was put on universal credit, having a fitness for work assessment and was placed in the group where by I am  not fit for work currently but will be fit at some point in the foreseeable future. I was to be-reassessed on this last year, but the appointment has still come to through.

In the background to this, I developed a relationship with a female friend who gave my support in these times. Last October we moved in together - we hope to marry later in the year.

 Before moving, I spoke with the family friend as what is the best thing to do in terms of contacting the DWP and they advised that, when I move in to the new house, they would write to the DWP on my behalf to inform them of my new address. They told me they had, but I have still not heard anything.

A few weeks ago, I received a PIP re-assessment form to my old address, (my parents home)  and aside from the general anxiety of having to fill it again, I am out of mind with worry that the change of circumstances has not gone through yet and I am terrified of the consequences this could lead too.

I am extremely worried about this, feel overwhelmed and don't know where to turn who to, to reach out to for help. The family friend is not available at this time, with their own problems.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

poppy12345

LewisEd72 said:

Hello,

I am seeking some advice as a matter of urgency. I will try and keep this as brief as possible.

Due to illness, I resigned from work in 2017. I visited the CAB who advised Appling for Universal Credit and Pip. The CAB officer applied on my behalf for both.

I was declined PIP initially,  but I had a family friend help with appeal for PIP and eventually, I was awarded it - I have mobility issues, as we all as epilepsy and comprehension problems. As well, as this, I suffer long term depression and anxiety.

 I was put on universal credit, having a fitness for work assessment and was placed in the group where by I am  not fit for work currently but will be fit at some point in the foreseeable future. I was to be-reassessed on this last year, but the appointment has still come to through.

In the background to this, I developed a relationship with a female friend who gave my support in these times. Last October we moved in together - we hope to marry later in the year.

 Before moving, I spoke with the family friend as what is the best thing to do in terms of contacting the DWP and they advised that, when I move in to the new house, they would write to the DWP on my behalf to inform them of my new address. They told me they had, but I have still not heard anything.

A few weeks ago, I received a PIP re-assessment form to my old address, (my parents home)  and aside from the general anxiety of having to fill it again, I am out of mind with worry that the change of circumstances has not gone through yet and I am terrified of the consequences this could lead too.

I am extremely worried about this, feel overwhelmed and don't know where to turn who to, to reach out to for help. The family friend is not available at this time, with their own problems.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

If you've been living together as a couple since last October then this was when you should have reported a change of circumstances. You should have claimed UC with your partner. Whether you're entitled to any UC will totally depend on both of your circumstances. If either of you have savings above £16,000 then you will be excluded from claiming.

Does your partner work? Any overpayment will need to be repaid back.

If you are/were claiming the single person discount for council tax and you failed to report the changes to your local council then you need to report those changes. Any overpayment for this will also need to be repaid back.

Regarding your family member reporting the changes on your behalf, unless they are your appointee then it will have been your responsibility to report all changes.

PIP won't be affected, just ring them to change your address.

sammyjammy

You need to contact Universal Credit immediately not only with your change of address but also your change of circumstances of living together with a partner.  Does your partner work?  Is your family friend your appointee?  If not they would not be able to report a change of details on your behalf.

LewisEd72

My partner does indeed work. 

The family friend - we called the DWP before the move, and I granted them to act on my behalf.

poppy12345

Unless this was arranged on your journal for the appointee then it doesn't apply. UC is all done through your journal and when your partner moved in with you, changes should have been report immediately.

As your partner works, whether you're entitled to any UC will depend on their earnings.

LewisEd72

I posted that back too quickly.

Thank you for your advice so far.

I wasn't claiming single person council tax. It has been paid since we moved in together, by my partner.

Possibly now feeling worse. Could anyone possibly advise me in a PM on how best to go about contacting the DWP.

poppy12345

LewisEd72 said:

I posted that back too quickly.

Thank you for your advice so far.

I wasn't claiming single person council tax. It has been paid since we moved in together, by my partner.

Possibly now feeling worse. Could anyone possibly advise me in a PM on how best to go about contacting the DWP.

For your UC claim this can be done through your journal and you will need to claim as a couple. Your partner will be sent a linking code so both your claims can be joined together. They will then recalculate each of your monthly statements since you moved in together. As advised, whether you'll continue to be entitled to any UC going forward will depend on your partners monthly net earnings.

Use a benefits calculator to check entitlement. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator/Intro/Home?cid=f50d31b0-ddb8-457d-a96c-fc97d2806a98

If both of your names are on the council tax then i'm surprised this wasn't flagged with DWP because i know they sometimes share information.

For your PIP, it's just a change of address and you can ring them for this.

Alice_Holt

LewisEd72 said:

Could anyone possibly advise me in a PM on how best to go about contacting the DWP.

    Put a change of circumstances note on your UC journal (per poppy's post).
     https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/changes-of-circumstances

   I would suggest having a chat with your partner, as your UC claim will move from a single claim to a joint claim. The new  UC joint claim will depend on your joint savings and earnings. 

   If your partner cares for you whilst you receive PIP it may be possible for the joint claim to include a carers addition. 
   https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Universal-Credit/Additional-Elements-of-Universal-Credit

   You may wish to get help to complete the PIP form:
   https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/fill-in-form/

LewisEd72

Thank you for all your help, so far. 

I will move on this and come back if I have any queries.

poppy12345

If you put both of your details into the benefits calculator above then it will tell you if you're entitled to anything.

LewisEd72

Thanks Poppy.

I don't think we will be, but I will look in to it.

As of now, am more concerned I will get into trouble for the late notification.