Living as a couple on universal credit

JohnAby

Hi, I'm currently a tenant in a private accommodation with a disabled child. I'm in receipt of universal credit and classed as a full time carer. Alongside cash for the child I get per month: "Standard single" £393.45, and "housing" £500 (I actually pay £625/month). I'm looking to move but will hopefully do so with the other parent of my child. They work 25 hours a week and, I assume, are therefore classed as full time. Their total pay is £15K a year. They are happy with that and wouldn't want to work more hours. I understand that if we start living together we will be classed as a couple (even though it would be platonic), and my claim would now become a claim as a couple. Here's some of the things I would like to know. 
(1) Occasionally I have to take a phone call to report my circumstances. Would my ''partner' also have to do that (they said they wouldn't mind updating their bank statement and proof of work etc, but wouldn't be happy if they had to start taking phone calls and the like)?
(2) Because they are 'only' working 25 hours, and since as a full time carer I'd be working zero, would they be pushed to work more hours? If they didn't, would benefits be docked because in theory they could work more?
(3) How exactly would the benefits I currently receive be affected? I'm assuming I (well, "we") would get less, which is okay - I ask only because I want to know what sort of place we could afford before moving. I read that for every £1 the 'worker' makes I would be docked 55p, so does that come off the "Standard single" £393.45 a month? (They take home something like £1200 a month, so my £393 would go down to zero.)
(4) Would my current £500 monthly housing allowance be halved or even scrapped?    

Spoonie_Turtle

First thing to establish is whether you actually would be a couple?  Obviously from your post you feel the default view of outsiders it would look like it, but if you're not then you need to make sure DWP get it right so you still receive the financial support you're entitled to.

Here's the guidance about LTAMC (living together as a married couple)
ADM Chapter E4
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7575a740f0b6397f35e96f/adme4.pdf

E4093 To be treated as LTAMC the relationship has to be the same as that of a married couple. Marriage is where two people join together with the intention of sharing the rest of their lives. There is no single template of what the relationship of a married couple is. It is a stable partnership, not just based on economic dependency but also on an emotional relationship of lifetime commitment rather than one of convenience, friendship, companionship or the living together of lovers. If the evidence does not suggest that it is more likely than not that the relationship between two people has the emotional quality that characterizes a married couple’s partnership, the DM should find that they are not LTAMC.

E4094 All factors of their relationship have to be considered. The significance of each factor can only be determined in the context of all of the factors with none being decisive. There is more to the determination than the cold, observable facts. The characteristics of the relationship may include
mutual love 
faithfulness 
public acknowledgement 
sexual relations  
shared surname 
children 
endurance 
stability 
interdependence 
devotion. 

E4095 Not all of the characteristics in E4094 need be present and two people may be treated as LTAMC even though the relationship is unsatisfactory or unhappy. DMs should also consider 
1. the relationship of the two people concerning money and
2. the general relationship of the two people

I do advise reading the document; after this section there is one about financial arrangements.

But ultimately if you will be living together as housemates rather than as a couple, you'll need to make sure they assess you properly as a single claim rather than assuming you'll have to make a joint claim.

JohnAby

Thank you for your input! I can't find "after this section there is one about financial arrangements"? Also, any information about my question "1" would be great?

Spoonie_Turtle

In the document, after the paragraphs I quoted, there is a section which discusses "The relationship of two people concerning money", E4098.

I don't currently have the brainpower to answer the specific questions in your first post, sorry, but others should be able to.

peteuk

As you've suggested you’ll be classed as a couple then the best thing to do is use a benefit calculator to see how your benefits will be affected. 

Anything your partner earns will reduce your UC payment, by 55p per pound.  

You’re partner will be expected to look for full time work,  shouldn’t effect the payment unless they are offered a full time post and they turn it down. 

JohnAby

Thank you all for responding. Events have moved on. The other parent is now saying there is no way under any circumstances that they are prepared to have their name assigned to benefits, and if I want to move into a place with them and play happy families (which I very much do), I would have to sign off my personal claim. They have thrown a sweetener my way by saying they are prepared to work longer hours, which their job allows for, to help make up for what would be a lessening of finance. That sounds good to me! First question: If I accepted their 'live together' offer, even though I would be signing off, would I be correct in believing the payment for my disabled child would still remain? Second question: this take it or leave it offer coincides with a phone call I'm due to get next Wednesday regarding the four months bank statements I recently sent it. I didn't send my PayPal account because I didn't think I needed to, which suited me fine as there have been some purchases that I would rather remain private (no, nothing like whatever you're thinking and certainly nothing illegal). If for a moment we assume I'm going to be asked for my PayPal account (yes, I know that that's not guaranteed, but let's assume so), if I decide to end my personal claim before the call, does that mean I no longer have to take the call or send the PayPal account if they ask for it? Or is it a case of, because I'd still be getting money for the child, I'd still be obliged to do as they request?

Alice_Holt

1)   If your child is in receipt of DLA that will continue.
      If you close your UC claim then all elements will end including the disabled child addition.

2)  See above - you would not be getting any UC monies for your child.  However, since you did not notify UC of monies in your Paypal account - they will need to see all the statements since opening your UC claim, so they can calculate any overpayment due to them. If you don't supply the requested savings info UC may determine all UC payments to date may be recoverable from you.

3) not asked in your question, but you may be able to claim Carers Allowance. 

JohnAby

Alice_Holt said:

1)   If your child is in receipt of DLA that will continue.
      If you close your UC claim then all elements will end including the disabled child addition.

2)  See above - you would not be getting any UC monies for your child.  However, since you did not notify UC of monies in your Paypal account - they will need to see all the statements since opening your UC claim, so they can calculate any overpayment due to them. If you don't supply the requested savings info UC may determine all UC payments to date may be recoverable from you.

3) not asked in your question, but you may be able to claim Carers Allowance. 

Thank you. Regards "UC may determine all UC payments to date may be recoverable from you." Out of curiosity, how would they know how much this is?

Spoonie_Turtle

JohnAby said:

Alice_Holt said:

1)   If your child is in receipt of DLA that will continue.
      If you close your UC claim then all elements will end including the disabled child addition.

2)  See above - you would not be getting any UC monies for your child.  However, since you did not notify UC of monies in your Paypal account - they will need to see all the statements since opening your UC claim, so they can calculate any overpayment due to them. If you don't supply the requested savings info UC may determine all UC payments to date may be recoverable from you.

3) not asked in your question, but you may be able to claim Carers Allowance. 

Thank you. Regards "UC may determine all UC payments to date may be recoverable from you." Out of curiosity, how would they know how much this is?

They need the information to be able to make the correct decision about entitlement. 
If you don't supply the requested information, since it is your responsibility to prove you are entitled to claim, they may assume you weren't entitled to any of the UC you've already received and demand you repay it. 

So the safest course is simply to supply the information they request.

poppy12345

JohnAby said:

Alice_Holt said:

1)   If your child is in receipt of DLA that will continue.
      If you close your UC claim then all elements will end including the disabled child addition.

2)  See above - you would not be getting any UC monies for your child.  However, since you did not notify UC of monies in your Paypal account - they will need to see all the statements since opening your UC claim, so they can calculate any overpayment due to them. If you don't supply the requested savings info UC may determine all UC payments to date may be recoverable from you.

3) not asked in your question, but you may be able to claim Carers Allowance. 

Thank you. Regards "UC may determine all UC payments to date may be recoverable from you." Out of curiosity, how would they know how much this is?

They would know by looking at your monthly UC statements.