My savings impacting any claim partner might make? 12 January at 1:09PM in Benefits & tax credits 13 replies 902 views

baser999

My partner (of 15 years) was made redundant about April 2021 and never sought further employment as I was still in work. I retired in May last year and given the present climate we’ve wondered if she might be entitled to any benefits. However, it seems that she has to disclose my income on any claims and this is ruling out any entitlements - I get the state pension, works pension, small annuity and have savings. 

Our home is owned outright in my name, and as we’re not married seem to have to declare that she’s ‘living with family/friends’ 
We’re not looking to submit any illegal claims but wondered if there’s anyone else been in this situation and if there’s any resolve?

TELLIT01

If your partner wishes to claim work related benefits, their only option as they haven't worked for 2 years, will be Universal Credits (UC).  For this she will have to declare your income as you are a couple, and household income determines level of entitlement.  Claiming that she is 'living with friends/family' will actually make it a fraudulent claim.  Make the claim on the basis of being a couple and see what the outcome is.  There are various tools available on-line which will give an indication of any potential entitlement. 

baser999

Thank you. Family/friends seemed to be the only realistic option. Will see what happens if we go through it as a couple though I suspect that if my incomes brought in she’ll still be out of luck. It’s not vast but clearly too high for benefits

calcotti

baser999 said:

Thank you. Family/friends seemed to be the only realistic option. 

baser999 said:, ..and as we’re not married seem to have to declare that she’s ‘living with family/friends’ 

From what you have said you are living as a couple (in benefit terms terms ‘living as if a married couple’). Your legal status is not relevant. 

Living together as a couple is not the same as living with friends. If you are a couple to declare that she is living with friends would be benefit fraud. As already advised

TELLIT01 said:.. Claiming that she is 'living with friends/family' will actually make it a fraudulent claim.  

If claiming UC she would have to declare that she has a partner, she would be given a linking code. You would then have to claim UC and you would input the linking code to join your claim to hers. The entitlement to UC would then be calculated on your joint circumstances. If your joint savings exceed £16,000 then neither of you are eligible to claim UC.

The benefits system assumes that each half of a couple will support the other in times of need.

sevenhills

You seem to be saying that you are a couple, just not accepting that you are both now retired.
If people got benefits after early retirement everyone would do it 

calcotti

sevenhills said:

You seem to be saying that you are a couple, just not accepting that you are both now retired.
If people got benefits after early retirement everyone would do it 

As a mixed age couple they may be eligible for UC (unless savings exceed the limit) but given what OP has said about their circumstances it seems very unlikely that there would be any entitlement.

sammyjammy

If she makes a single claim and put s living with family/friends and do not declare a partner that would in fact be fraud so not a realistic option if you in fact wish not to submit an "illegal claim"

calcotti

If you wish to increase your joint income she will need to find a job.

Muttleythefrog

baser999 said:

Thank you. Family/friends seemed to be the only realistic option. Will see what happens if we go through it as a couple though I suspect that if my incomes brought in she’ll still be out of luck. It’s not vast but clearly too high for benefits

Yes for benefits' purposes you would be considered a couple living together even if not married and so your circumstances would have to be considered in claim for income related type benefits. False declarations regarding relationships and living arrangements is a classic area for fraud and fraud investigation... I remember many years ago I got a visit and interview to determine if I was in a relationship with a woman (my landlady.. the landlady.. it was a pub) a good 40 years older than me that shared the same address... I almost vomited when she asked if I shared a bed with them and her partner (he'd been accused the previous day of having an affair with the cleaner) who overheard took a big gulp of his brandy.. it was bad enough her asking if we shared grocery shopping..lol.. memories of all that lard she cooked everything in.

baser999

Thanks everyone, it seems that my savings are going to scupper any claims regardless of whether we claim to be a couple (which we undoubtedly are, despite not being married) or not. 

In view of Khans impending expansion of ULEZ we’ll be needing to buy another car so perhaps that’s a means of reducing my savings. Or is that construed as deliberately reducing capital to gain benefits? 

Alice_Holt

https://revenuebenefits.org.uk/tax-credits/guidance/how-do-tax-credits-work/understanding-living-together/

Relates to TC, but UC use similar criteria around the issue of living together as man and wife.


UC guidance for DM's:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/661551/adme4.pdf