DECEMBER 5TH living together. Same Sex couples Get it right.

Ted_Hutchinson

Get it Right booklet
It's getting very close for some people. The DWP say they will not seek those now contravening this new law as a priority and will only look at cases as and when they arise however HMRC (Inland Revenue) have made no such promise so do have a look at this leaflet.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/news-civilpartnerships.htm

Sorry about that DWP link above. How on earth the DWP can produce such a patronising crap pathetic document beggars believe. LOW INCOME GROUP deals with the matters arising in a more sensible manner.

I must say I find it rather disqueting seeing the CAB listed in between the DWP and Directgov. It does rather give the impression the CAB is a government sponsored organisation but no doubt given the constraints on their finances they may as well be.

Justicia

Firstly, I agree with your comments in regards to the "funky" DWP booklet ~ I think that it appears to be more appropriate for a teenage-aimed leaflet about drugs or safe sex, considering the strange but colourful design...?

Anyway, in regards to the change in the "Living Together As A Couple" benefits guidelines, I am all for it. Coming from a Jobcentre Plus background myself I welcome this final closure in this particular loophole.

elmer

I work with CTB and Housing Benefit, and we have been told that we will not be persuing same sex couples to tell us, whether or not the have gone through a civil partnership, as aquiring evidence to back up any change in their benefit is "outside the scope of our visiting officers",
and we are not able to make assumptions about all our clients who share accomodation with another person of the same sex
So basically nothing will change for same sex couples unless they insist on it, and why would they do that, they will lose a 1/3 of their benefit.

Elmer

CIS

Does that not amount to legalised fraud ?, if people have campaigned so hard for the rule changes then no they've got them they should be enforced.

Ted_Hutchinson

While I think it is reasonable that the strict application of this rule should be phased in over a few months so people have a chance to rearrange their finances, it cannot be right that a hetrosexual couple living together as man and wife should be treated any differently for benefit or tax purposes than a homosexual couple ltamaw so like Justicia I am also all for it.

Which of course is why I posted the information to enable people who may be adversly affected by this change to get their benefit/tax situation on a legal basis asp.

CIS

I hope that people do see the information you posted and do the right thing. If they don't it could lead to some interesting differences between DWP and HMRC.

mrbnewc

I also hope that people do the right thing. Technically, those in receipt of a benefit which would be affected by 'living together' should report their change in circumstances from 5th December 2005. Just because there is a change in legislation, people should not assume that the authorities will sniff them out eventually.

I don't think there should be a transitional period either. Those in same sex relationships like myself have known about the change in legislation for long enough already.

Don't defraud the system!

MrB

zeryx

If they don't report it within 3 months of Dec 5th to Tax Credits they will end up with overpayments in their single awards and they could lose entitlement in their new joint application if it is delayed.

Anthillmob

at the LA where i work ive found that lots of same sex couples are quite willing to have claims as "couples" and are pleased that the law has finally changed and they are being recognised.

living together as husband and wife is quite a hard fraud to prove suprisingly.

camper

is that from LA point of view? At DWP we have questionaire we send out, decison is based on those answers.

However its true that same sex couples are delighted to be treated as couples in law. Had many declarations this week, in spite of the reduction of benefits. Amazing.

cabrioman

i live with a friend of the same sex. he works, i dont at the moment. will we be regarded as a same sex couple?