Please help improve my current financial situation.

LightBrigade

Hello there.

This is my first time posting on the forum after lerking for a while.

My situation is this: I'm currently unemployed and on Job Seekers' Allowance. However, I am currently living with a friend. It's not official and can not be, therefore I do not have a tenancy agreement and can not get housing benefit.

Though I am living with my friend, I am staying at my partner's house 6-7 days a week and, ashamedly, I am not (can not) pay her anything.

My partner works full-time and part-owns the flat which we're staying in.
If I was to officially move in with her, would claiming housing benefit effect her in any way?
I know her council tax will go up, but if I was able to get housing benefit until I can get a job then it would help a great deal.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Fran

If you are at her place 6-7 nights a week as far as income based benefits are concerned you would be seen as already living with her. For these benefits any claim you make will have to be a joint claim. If you are on Contribution Based JSA you can claim that for up to six months but if you subsequently still haven't got a job and put in a claim for Income Based JSA her income would be taken into consideration.

LightBrigade

Thank you for your reply.

I'm not sure if I am on income-based or not, to be honest.
Last time I worked was in October. That was a temporary job. Before that I was working full-time from Nov 07 - Sep 08.
I am not registered as living here (my partner's) at all. Mail doesn't even get sent to this address. It's simply my girlfriend's flat and I come to see her... for extended periods of time.

I am unsure if that would make a difference. If you need any further details, please let me know.

Fran

You should check which JSA you are on, it depends on paying a certain amount of contributions in previous years.

For benefits purposes (income related) they would see you as living there now as from what you have said you are there most of the time.

bestpud

You are on dodgy ground with your current arrangement.

From your point of view, you have failed to declare your partner, and their earnings.

From her point of view, she is claiming a single person discount on her council tax, and yet she is not living alone.

Your post indicates you are already aware of these issues and therefore I am unsure if you are asking us to help you get away with fraud?

bunny999

For the purpose of any means tested benefit you are living with your gf. This means any claim would take your gfs income into account - so you would not be entitled to housing or any other means tested benefit. Your gf would no longer be entitled to pay the lower rate of council tax.

PolishBigSpender

The easiest way to improve your financial situation is to get a job.

It really isn't hard.

LightBrigade

bestpud wrote: »

You are on dodgy ground with your current arrangement.

From your point of view, you have failed to declare your partner, and their earnings.

From her point of view, she is claiming a single person discount on her council tax, and yet she is not living alone.

Your post indicates you are already aware of these issues and therefore I am unsure if you are asking us to help you get away with fraud?

Please understand that I am by no means attempting to get away with or even seeking advice on fraud.

While at my father's house I read out the responses to this thread and he informed me that he believes I am 'allowed' to stay at my girlfriend's for up to three nights per week before I am considered as living there. I was unaware of this or of any timescale.
I am not trying to do anything underhanded. I want to remain above board. In mine and my girlfriend's eyes I do not live here (her house). However, with the recent information brought to light the government probably see otherwise. This is something which I will have to talk to her about later.

I agree with PolishBigSpender. That would definitely be the easiest way to improve my financial situation aside from one issue... The country's in an economical crisis and finding new employment isn't so easy now-a-days. I'm working on it - God knows I'm working on it - even excepting one-day warehouse jobs for the extra bit of income (pre-signing on). And it's something which I will continue to do until I find a job.

That aside, thank you everybody for your input. I'll bring this up with my partner and work towards getting everything sorted.

healy

LightBrigade wrote: »

Please understand that I am by no means attempting to get away with or even seeking advice on fraud.

While at my father's house I read out the responses to this thread and he informed me that he believes I am 'allowed' to stay at my girlfriend's for up to three nights per week before I am considered as living there. I was unaware of this or of any timescale.
I am not trying to do anything underhanded. I want to remain above board. In mine and my girlfriend's eyes I do not live here (her house). However, with the recent information brought to light the government probably see otherwise. This is something which I will have to talk to her about later.

I agree with PolishBigSpender. That would definitely be the easiest way to improve my financial situation aside from one issue... The country's in an economical crisis and finding new employment isn't so easy now-a-days. I'm working on it - God knows I'm working on it - even excepting one-day warehouse jobs for the extra bit of income (pre-signing on). And it's something which I will continue to do until I find a job.

That aside, thank you everybody for your input. I'll bring this up with my partner and work towards getting everything sorted.

Your Father is wrong there is no "allowed" or set number of days you can stay with your girlfriend. Each case is judged on an individual basis taking a number of factors into account.