Partner automatically move to UC when moving in and lose everything?

Corbula

My partner gets ESA and PIP (there may be others I'm not sure), as she's a carer for her mum, little sister and her dad. She doesn't work as she cares for them either but also has things herself that limit her ability to work. We've also had a child recently with disabilities and has been given DLA. We're looking for advice as my partner is worried that when she moves in with me (she still lives with her family) that she will automatically get moved to UC and then not be eligible for it and lose everything she gets except for DLA as I have a salary and savings.

My partner did hear about a benefit that she with her ability to work being affected that was based on her rather than the household but I can't remember what it was called. 

So is this true, will she lose everything? 

Alice_Holt

Is her ESA entirely income-based or is some contribution-based ?
Which ESA group is she in - WRAG or Support Group ?

Her PIP will continue as that is not means tested.

She is likely to be able to Carers Allowance in full (c£67 pw), rather than (as currently ?) receive a carers premium on her ESA. 

You will be assessed as a couple for any entitlement to UC. Put your combined details into a benefit calculator to check.  

NedS

Only her ESA may be affected, and then only if it is income based. Her PIP and Carers Allowance are not means tested and neither is the DLA for the child. Carers Allowance would already be deducted from any income element of ESA so the loss of ESA income based may not impact much at all. So no, she will not lose everything, the vast majority will be unaffected.

Corbula

Alice_Holt said:

Is her ESA entirely income-based or is some contribution-based ?
Which ESA group is she in - WRAG or Support Group ?

Her PIP will continue as that is not means tested.

She is likely to be able to Carers Allowance in full (c£67 pw), rather than (as currently ?) receive a carers premium on her ESA. 

You will be assessed as a couple for any entitlement to UC. Put your combined details into a benefit calculator to check.  

I think it's income based and in the support group type. She gets carers allowance but I'm not sure which way that's done. 

So she wouldn't automatically get moved to UC? 

sammyjammy

Nobody gets automatically moved to UC, if she thinks she has entitlement she is free to make a claim, her ESA will end though once she declares the change of circumstances.

Corbula

sammyjammy said:

Nobody gets automatically moved to UC, if she thinks she has entitlement she is free to make a claim, her ESA will end though once she declares the change of circumstances.

So she would have to make a new claim for ESA? Which would be looked at as a household and count me into it which would likely mean she won't get anything. 

pmlindyloo

It is very difficult to help people when they are unsure of the facts.  Where benefits are concerned it is the details that are important.

Once your partner moves in with you ,your finances are accessed as a couple.  Universal Credit is the benefit that you MIGHT be eligible for as a couple.  (Note that if you have savings over £16000 then you will not be eligible.)

There are some benefits that are not based on household income.  DLA and PIP (in your case) would not be affected.

Carer's Allowance can be claimed as an individual but there are earnings limits. Since your partner does not work then she would be eligible for this

Now ESA.
There are two kinds of ESA - contribution based and income based.  (To complicate matters further you can also have a mixture of the two!)
Contribution based is an individual benefit and is not affected by household income (except pension payments) nor savings.
Income  based ESA is affected by household income and savings.

So to sum up.

Your partner would retain PIP, DLA for child, any contribution based ESA .  There would be no Carer's Allowance if she received contribution based ESA as these are called overlapping benefits and only the higher amount benefit is paid.

If your partner currently claims income based ESA only then she would not continue to receive this. You could claim Universal Credit as a couple if you are eligible.

As you can see it is rather complicated.

If you look at your partner's ESA award letter it should give a breakdown of the award.

If you wish to share more details of your finances we may be able to be more specific. 

Otherwise you can use a benefits calculator and put in both your details (you MUST claim as a couple if you move in together).  www.entitledto.co.uk is reliable but you must be accurate with your information.

Corbula

pmlindyloo said:

It is very difficult to help people when they are unsure of the facts.  Where benefits are concerned it is the details that are important.

Once your partner moves in with you ,your finances are accessed as a couple.  Universal Credit is the benefit that you MIGHT be eligible for as a couple.  (Note that if you have savings over £16000 then you will not be eligible.)

There are some benefits that are not based on household income.  DLA and PIP (in your case) would not be affected.

Carer's Allowance can be claimed as an individual but there are earnings limits. Since your partner does not work then she would be eligible for this

Now ESA.
There are two kinds of ESA - contribution based and income based.  (To complicate matters further you can also have a mixture of the two!)
Contribution based is an individual benefit and is not affected by household income (except pension payments) nor savings.
Income  based ESA is affected by household income and savings.

So to sum up.

Your partner would retain PIP, DLA for child, any contribution based ESA .  There would be no Carer's Allowance if she received contribution based ESA as these are called overlapping benefits and only the higher amount benefit is paid.

If your partner currently claims income based ESA only then she would not continue to receive this. You could claim Universal Credit as a couple if you are eligible.

As you can see it is rather complicated.

If you look at your partner's ESA award letter it should give a breakdown of the award.

If you wish to share more details of your finances we may be able to be more specific. 

Otherwise you can use a benefits calculator and put in both your details (you MUST claim as a couple if you move in together).  www.entitledto.co.uk is reliable but you must be accurate with your information.

Thank you.

Her ESA is fully income based.
So she would keep her PIP and DLA. but lose her ESA and gain Carers Allowance. 

She wouldn't qualify for UC because of my savings and probably salary. I have 20k in an S&S ISA which I'm using for later in life and retirement which I'm considering moving into a SIPP so that wouldn't come into it. I also have 15k in a cash ISA but I'm going to be using a few thousand of this on my new house. My salary is 29k.

So she will be losing quite a chunk with losing the ESA? What about the new style ESA, isn't that just based on her rather than the household? 

poppy12345

Does she claim Child tax credits? If she does then when she moves in with you she will need to report the changes and then it will end. You won't be able to make a new claim as a couple for tax credits.

Corbula

poppy12345 said:

Does she claim Child tax credits? If she does then when she moves in with you she will need to report the changes and then it will end. You won't be able to make a new claim as a couple for tax credits.

I will ask her if that's one she did or not. I thought everyone could have child tax credits including couples. 

poppy12345

Corbula said:

poppy12345 said:

Does she claim Child tax credits? If she does then when she moves in with you she will need to report the changes and then it will end. You won't be able to make a new claim as a couple for tax credits.

I thought everyone could have child tax credits including couples. 

Yes indeed they can but it's no longer possible to start a new claim as a couple. If you lived together then any single claim she has will end.