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Partner deceased
I’m helping a client whose wife has just died.
She was in receipt of Pension Credit, State Pension and Attendance Allowance at the HR, her husband was her main carer but he had no income. He is under state pension age.
Is Universal credit is only route now for income
Yes it is - there don’t appear to be any exceptions that would apply in his case. It is quite a drop unfortunately, the working age single person’s rate per month is not much more than the SPC couple rate with carer premium per week.
The only positive thing I can say is that he should receive £100 a month bereavement support payment for 18 months which doesn’t affect UC, assuming that his wife paid contributions at some point in the past
Also cannot be required to look for work etc. for six months from the date of death.
UC Regs, reg 99(3)(d)(i)
Circumstances in which requirements must not be imposed
99.—(1) Where paragraph (3), (4), (5) or (6) applies—
(a)the Secretary of State must not impose a work search requirement on a claimant; and
(b)“able and willing immediately to take up work” under a work availability requirement means able and willing to take up paid work, or attend an interview, immediately once the circumstances set out in paragraph (3), (4), (5) or (6) no longer apply.
.....
(3) This paragraph applies where—
......
(d)any of the following persons has died within the past 6 months—
(i)where the claimant was a member of a couple, the other member,
Also cannot be required to look for work etc. for six months from the date of death.
UC Regs, reg 99(3)(d)(i)Circumstances in which requirements must not be imposed
99.—(1) Where paragraph (3), (4), (5) or (6) applies—
(a)the Secretary of State must not impose a work search requirement on a claimant; and
(b)“able and willing immediately to take up work” under a work availability requirement means able and willing to take up paid work, or attend an interview, immediately once the circumstances set out in paragraph (3), (4), (5) or (6) no longer apply.
.....
(3) This paragraph applies where—
......
(d)any of the following persons has died within the past 6 months—
(i)where the claimant was a member of a couple, the other member,
well spotted.