Rejected petition: Assess means-tested benefits on individual income rather than household income
Rejected on
We call on the Government to reform means-tested welfare benefits, such as Universal Credit, so that eligibility and award amounts are assessed on individual income and savings rather than joint household income.
Currently, individuals applying for means-tested benefits must include their partner’s income and capital, forcing joint claims. Working individuals are assessed on their personal income for tax purposes, and the same principle of individual assessment should apply to means-tested benefits. The current system creates financial dependency on partners, leaves vulnerable individuals at risk of financial control or abuse, and prevents individuals unable to work from retaining financial independence.
Why was this petition rejected?
There’s already a petition about this issue. We cannot accept a new petition when we already have one about a very similar issue.
You are more likely to get action on this issue if you sign and share a single petition.
You may wish to sign the following petition:
Do not include partner’s income when applying for means-tested benefits
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/776732We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.