Model a Universal Credit claim by a member of a couple as a single person (UC Regs 2013 reg 3(3))

changelog.d/uc-reg3-3-single-claim.fixed.md

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Universal Credit for a member of a couple who claims as a single person (UC Regs 2013 reg. 3(3)): the single-claimant standard allowance at the claimant's own age, no LCWRA or carer element for the other member, the single-claimant benefit cap and the shared accommodation rate, while the couple's capital and income still count. The other member's own disability and other personal benefits no longer lift the benefit cap. In the childcare work condition the claimant must meet the paid work limb and the other member the partner limb, and only the claimant can be treated as in paid work under regulation 32(2). A partner under 18 outside regulation 8 is now identified as such a partner. The benefit cap rate and exceptions and the LHA shared accommodation test, which Housing Benefit shares, keep the couple rules for a family that stays on legacy benefits (reports one and would not claim Universal Credit).

policyengine_uk/tests/policy/baseline/finance/benefit/family/LHA_claimant_composition.yaml

@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@
     # Responsibility for a UC QYP blocks A. Existing bedroom formula = 1: B.
     LHA_category: B
 
-- name: Couple aged 30 and 17 is not a single specified renter
+- name: Renter aged 30 whose partner is 17 claims as a single person and is a specified renter
   period: 2025
   input:
     people:
@@ -109,10 +109,39 @@
   output:
     is_couple: true
     is_responsible_for_child_or_qualifying_young_person_for_universal_credit: false
+    # The partner is not a non-dependant (UC Sch 4 para 9(2)(b)).
     lha_renter_has_non_dependant: false
+    # The partner is under 18 with no reg. 8 circumstance, so the renter
+    # claims as a single person (UC Regs 2013 reg. 3(3)(a)) and is "a member
+    # of a couple claiming as a single person" under 35 (Sch 4 para 28(2);
+    # ADM F3213): shared accommodation.
+    uc_member_of_couple_claims_as_single_person: true
+    is_lha_shared_accommodation_rate_specified_renter: true
+    LHA_category: A
+
+- name: Couple aged 30 and 17 where the partner is within reg. 8 is not a specified renter
+  period: 2025
+  input:
+    people:
+      renter:
+        age: 30
+        is_claimant_or_partner: true
+      partner:
+        age: 17
+        is_claimant_or_partner: true
+        # Reg. 8(1)(c): caring responsibilities, so the couple claim jointly.
+        care_hours: 35
+    benunits:
+      couple:
+        members: [renter, partner]
+    households:
+      home:
+        members: [renter, partner]
+  output:
+    is_couple: true
+    uc_member_of_couple_claims_as_single_person: false
     is_lha_shared_accommodation_rate_specified_renter: false
-    # A partner establishes neither QYP responsibility nor a non-dependant;
-    # couple room = 1: B under the existing bedroom calculation.
+    # Joint renters have one bedroom (Sch 4 para 10(1)(a)): B.
     LHA_category: B
 
 - name: A 17-year-old in another family is a non-dependant of the household head only