Can a couple ever be allocated a bedroom each?
Generally the claimant and their partner are expected to only need one bedroom. However, the size criteria rules changed in 1st April 2017 to allow a couple a bedroom each where they cannot sleep in the same room due to a disability.
Where a couple need to sleep in separate bedrooms due to a direct medical need, the size criteria allow them to be allocated a bedroom each. This would include couples who have to sleep in separate beds due to one member's disability and their bedroom is not large enough for two single beds and where the disabled member, due to their disability, would disturbs the other member during the night to an unreasonable extent so they have to sleep in a separate bedroom.
To be allocated a room each:
- The DWP must be happy that it is unreasonable for one member of a couple^ to share a bedroom with their partner because of either partner's disabilities^^, and
- The disabled member of the couple is in receipt of:
- Middle or high rate care component of Disability Living Allowance, or
- Daily living component Personal Independence Payment/Adult Disability Payment, or
- Attendance Allowance/Pension Age Disability Payment^^^, or
- Constant Attendance Allowance (paid in with Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, or
- Armed Forces Independence Payment.
^Non-dependant couples already have a bedroom allocated to each of them.
^^This could be because they would be unreasonably disturbed if they had to sleep in same bedroom and/or if the disabled member has to sleep in a specific bed that they cannot share with their partner, there is insufficient room for two single beds in the bedroom.
^^^Up until 27th January 2025 the Regulations specifically stated that for Attendance Allowance/Pension Age Disability Payment it must have been the higher rate of Attendance Allowance/Pension Age Disability Payment, however this was changed to any rate by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2025.
TOP TIP
An extra room for children unable to share a bedroom for disability reasons is often missed from the start of a UC claim. A claimant can ask for a decision on their UC claim to be revised/reconsidered on any grounds, up to 13 months later - or longer if the DWP accept it was their 'official error' for not asking the right questions!
Click on the button below for a template journal entry (or use the wording to create a letter if the claimant has an off-line award).