Benefits for Couples in the UK

Universal Credit requires a joint claim if you are a couple living together, whether married or cohabiting. Both partners' income and savings are assessed together. The standard allowance for a couple is higher than for a single person (up to £578.82/month for couples over 25, compared to £393.45 for a single person). Pension Credit also assesses couples jointly, with a higher guaranteed minimum for couples. The savings threshold for couples is the same as for single people — £16,000 for UC and no upper limit for Pension Credit.

Non-means-tested benefits such as PIP, Attendance Allowance, and ESA (New Style) are assessed individually — your partner's circumstances do not affect your eligibility. If one partner receives PIP or Attendance Allowance, the other may be able to claim Carer's Allowance. For mixed-age couples (where one partner is over and one is under State Pension age), you would typically need to claim Universal Credit rather than Pension Credit, unless you were already receiving Pension Credit before 15 May 2019. This can make a significant difference, as Pension Credit is generally more generous.