Benefits and moving in together with partner

Ambi16

Hello, due to long term disabilities and chronic health conditions my partner and I are looking to move in together but we are concerned on how this will affect our benefits. We have PIP, ESA Contributions and Universal Credit. Will any of these be affected when we move in? Will we get more or less? This is all very new to us. I know of some benefits all you need to do is do a joint claim ect but obviously we dot want to be low on money. life is tough enough as it is.

Exodi

I'm not an expert (hopefully someone more knowledgable will be along shortly to agree/disagree) but AFAIK means-tested benefits could be effected (e.g. Universal Credit) and non means-tested benefits (e.g. PIP & ESA) would not. As you imply, these means tested benefits are typically based on 'household income', though as you're both in receipt of benefits, I'd be suprised if it made a significant impact - worth running the numbers on https://www.entitledto.co.uk/

poppy12345

The person that's claiming UC will need to report a change of circumstances through your journal and you'll be sent a linking code. Your partner will then need to start a claim for UC their self and use the linking code to join both claims together. 

Their contributions based ESA will continue as normal but be deducted in full from any UC entitlement. If the person that's claiming UC also has the LCWRA element included, this will continue BUT if your partner is also in the Support Group for ESA your UC will only include one LCWRA element and not 2 because only 1 person can receive the extra money per claim. 

The other person can claim carers element for looking after the other person, if they care for them for at least 35 hours per week. 

You will of course receive less money in total but living together means less bills with only one household. If you're also claiming single person discount for council tax you will lose that.