Partner Leaving ESA Joint Claim

shinyforce wrote: Hi there! I'm currently in the ESA support group, with a joint claim with my partner, income-based. My partner is going to be moving across the country to start an apprenticeship, and thus is moving out. We are not married or engaged. Will the DWP count his income and cut my benefits, or will I move to the single person rate since we won't be living together anymore? Thank you for any help you can provide!

It will depend on whether a Decision Maker sees this as a temporary or permanent separation?

If the former then it is possible that they will treat any earnings as income and deduct it from your claim and if your partner work more than 24 hours a week then your ESA payments will be stopped.

If classed as separate then you would lose the couples rate but nothing else.

I'm sorry that I can't give a definitive answer.

Would your partner be returning at weekends? Would there mail still be sent to your address? These are questions that may allow the DM to decide one way or the other.

I would recommend that you get face to face advice from a trained advisor, they will know more about presenting your situation to the DWP. Do an internet search for "welfare advice" with your postcode, town or county.

Gordon