What is the definition of Living as a Couple?

longster70

Well we've split up now anyway so isn't a problem any longer (but at least we tried living together and we managed a year)!

andyandflo

Mr_Falling_Star wrote: »

As a ex Jobcentre Plus and Pension Service visiting officer I can confirm that there are no set number of nights somebody can stay at their girl/boyfriends. What they look at is your relationship and how other people see you. I agree with most of the posters here you will have a hard time if you are staying there 7 nights a week

What I used to look at is how much of your stuff is in the partners house, are any bills in her house in your name, what is the status of your house, eg is it a fully functioning lived in house and your relationships history. The killer punch for me used to be how are meals organised and is your food kept separate from hers? Sleeping arrangements do not really come into it as plenty of couples sleep apart.

The best one I know of is my female cousin who lived in Manchester and had a relationship with a guy in North Kent. She and her two children moved in with him. She applied for and received housing benefit for 'rent' that was payable under a 'rental contract' set up by her bf and a lettings agent. Additionally she claimed IS as a single mother and when questioned on the relationship much later she told them that there was no connection other than tenant and landlord, and anyhow he was gay!!

How much of that is actually true, I have no idea, but she was quite open about it and telling the rest of the familly.

nannytone_2

longster70 wrote: »

Bit of a bummer really! I want to rent this place out - have been trying for 6 months, but the deficit between what I would get in rent and pay on mortgage is that great that it would be difficult financially. Added to the fact that my partner is overly "proud" as she wont let me contribute toward the upkeep of her kids and insists she would have to pay half of the costs!

Things are never easy in life!!!

so she's really pround and won't let you contribute?
but she'll let me ( the taxpayer) contribute?
sounds about right!

Breast_Cancer_Survivor

Damzel_In_Distress wrote: »

Well i claim IS and TC and to my knowledge you are allowed NO MORE than 3 overnight stays.And there are to be no belongings of a partner in the house at all left there,and the 3 overnights have to be seperate nights and not all in consession.
The simple thing to do to check is to ring the DWP and ask,but that is what i was told and my friend sticks to these rules like there written in stone with her boyfriend,because they do randomly do checks sometimes

This is not true, there is no rule saying you can even have your partner stay over 1 night a week.

If you view someone as your partner then you are not single.

I know this from personal experience as I was investigated for benefit fraud although I was proved innocent.

Killmark

longster70 wrote: »

Added to the fact that my partner is overly "proud" as she wont let me contribute toward the upkeep of her kids and insists she would have to pay half of the costs!

Might be because shared finances would help add support you being seen as a couple when it comes to benefits..