Single or joint TC claim? Advice please.

sally99

Hi there,

looking for advice about my situation - I have claimed WTC and CTC for the last few years as a lone parent. I am currently pregnant - baby due in Feb next year. I really would like my boyfriend to move in as we want to be together and obviously I will need lots of help with new baby etc and don't wish to live alone for the rest of my life!

My query lies in that my BF is head of his household as both his parents have passed away leaving him and several siblings living together in the family home. He pays all the bills and maintains the home and is not in a position currently where he can put the house up for sale, sell it and be financially joined with me. They are all over 18 and a couple of them do work part time and are in education too, but none of them would be able to afford to buy or rent a property on their own.

So if he moves in and we put in a joint claim for tax credits, I will actually be financially worse off, as his other financial commitments will still be ongoing. He would not be able to contribute in any way towards my financial commitments. He is hoping that over the coming year, the situation may change as one of them may go away to uni and another might move in with his girlfriend, which would clear the way to sell the property and divide the proceeds. This would obviously alleviate our predicament somewhat.

SO what should I do - should I call tax credits and explain this situation as I have no wish to carry on claiming as a singleton if really I should put a joint claim in if and when he moves in with me. Or will I be ok claiming as a single person until his household situation is resolved? I absolutely don't want to get into trouble and could manage on less if I had to, but obviously don't want to struggle on less if I don't have to. Any advice would be most gratefully received.

cw18

I was talking to a friend today who happened to mention that when she moved in with her (then) BF, she was worried that Tax Credits would make him effectively financially responsible for the child she already had.

When she spoke to them she was told to write in with proof that (even though they lived together) they were financially independant -- and they left her TC as if she were a lone parent. Basically he paid all the bills and she paid him a set amount each week for 'board and lodgings' for herself and her child.

Not sure how this would work in your case (even if they still allow it) as

1) she was getting maintaince for her child from the father - so proving he was financially responsible
2) she was paying 'rent' to her BF, whereas in your case anything he gives you would be seen as income -- and as such would count against your TC claim. I'm also not sure they'd let him move in for free

sally99

Thanks for your reply,

I do get hit and miss maintenance from the father of my daughter, more hit than miss thankfully. My house is all in my name as are all my bills. We could certainly prove that we are financially independant of one another, but I can also see that he would be living with me for free, which TC may not approve of. I'm thinking my best bet would be to ring them and have a chat, but knowing how they operate, have not wish to open a big can of worms for no reason, knowing that the situation could sort itself out in a few months, or get one answer from one advisor, only to get into massive strife a few months later.

Zara33

When your bloke moves in with you it will be a joint claim. Are you saying he won't be able to contribute financally for his child either

sally99

No I'm not saying that, I'm saying that he won't be able to contribute to any of my household expenses until his own domestic situation is resolved. I'm reluctant to get involved in any of his family politics, as from my point of view i could say, stuff them all, sell the house, why should I care etc etc etc. But over the last couple of years they have lost both their parents. It's ok for my BF he has somewhere to go to ready and waiting, but the others don't.

Of course any new dad is going to contribute towards the financial cost of his child if he is a good man.

kei_2

If you are living together as a couple, then it will be a joint claim.

The claim will take into account your boyfriends earnings but not his outgoings. Really depends on what you and your boyfriend earn on a yearly basis, payments could theoretically go up as there are 2 adults in the house but they all could go down based on the income.

CIS

If you live as a couple then you have to claim as a couple - http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/counts-couple.htm

sally99

Thanks for the replies

kind of figured this would be the case but thought I'd come here first and see if anyone had any advice or similar experience to share. He doesn't earn that much, enough to run his own house, but not 2 households, so looks like I'll be the one taking the financial hit until his house gets sold.

Conor_3

sally99 wrote: »

No I'm not saying that, I'm saying that he won't be able to contribute to any of my household expenses until his own domestic situation is resolved.

His siblings are adults. They should fend for themselves. THey're old enough to.