Get Help with Benefits If you are claiming Universal Credit and are worried about your financial resilience, speak to your advisor at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) You can request an appointment with a specialist work coach in a private room. Your conversations will be kept confidential and they can offer you additional support. Universal Credit If you have a joint claim for Universal Credit this will usually be paid into one bank account. If you have children, your work coach will tell you your Universal Credit payment should go into the bank account of the main carer. If you’re worried about your partner controlling all your benefit income and leaving you and your children without any money, talk to your work coach as they will arrange for you to have your Universal Credit paid into your own account or split into separate payments. That way, you will get money for yourself and your children and your partner will get a separate payment. Caution is needed to make sure this action will not put you at further risk of harm, please get advice if you are concerned this may escalate the risk from your partner. If you are struggling with work related commitments, due to being in an abusive relationship, you can have a break from work related requirements for up to 13 weeks, or 26 weeks if you are the main carer of a child up to 16 years of age, this will give you the space and time needed to get additional help and support.
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These options are for anyone in ‘exceptional circumstances’, for example anyone who is at risk of financial abuse. Child Benefit Child Benefit will remain as a separate benefit outside Universal Credit and is usually paid to the main carer. Housing Benefit If you have to temporarily leave your home due to domestic abuse and you intend to return home once it is safe to, you can receive the housing element of Universal Credit for both a former permanent home and temporary accommodation for up to 12 months. If you don’t intend to return to your former home, you can receive Housing Benefit for up to 4 weeks, if you have an unavoidable rental liability on the former home.
“I’ve learned so much already and had my eyes opened - I thought I knew what financial abuse was but I didn’t understand the wider impact or how many women were affected.”
Economic Resilience Toolkit
