would you consider living apart for financial reasons ?

alwaysonthego_2

ailuro2 wrote: »

Also, get yourselves down to a CAB or have a look at www.entitledto.org , if things are that tight, you may be entitled to additional help you didn't know about already - children's clothing vouchers, free school meals, free prescriptions, that kind of thing.

The op would only be entitled to free prescriptions if they were claiming wtc. I really doubt they were entitled to free school meals and clothing vouchers unless they were earning under £15,000 and claiming ctc, but not wtc. I can imagine that they have lots of debts.

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/life/benefits/help_with_health_education_and_legal_costs.htm

margaretclare

alwaysonthego wrote: »

As many of you regulars know I work at the cab and would urge you not to live seperately from your dh and claim benefits as a single person. You will be committing fraud and as one of your earlier posts suggest you are fully aware of it. You will get caught it is matter of time and you will have to pay all the benefits back and possibly get prosecuted and have a criminal record which will limit any future employment.

You are a couple so do not think about claiming as a single person.

My own opinion is that you need to get a grip and stick as a family. You are very selfish and are not thinknig about your children.

When I worked at CAB on the telephone line I would regularly get someone coming on asking this very question. It's obviously something that gets talked about pretty frequently, maybe at the school gate, in the pub, wherever. So people do know of 'someone who is doing this, how much better off would I be if we split up, would we both be separately rehoused and both claim housing benefits etc?'

It was a question that was impossible to answer because when I said it wasn't possible, they claimed to 'know someone who was doing it'.

[Deleted User]

All very harsh and judgmental answers. If someone was actually considering this and asking advice on here and not sneaking around I assume times must be tough.

Many people live apart for many reasons, working away, not enough space, caring responisibilities etc. And it'sNOT illegal. What IS illegal is if you claim to be living apart and are actually living together. If you are living apart and you are actually living apart, that means totally, not just having another address but spending majority of the time together in the one home and other home is empty, now that IS illegal.

Couples start as lving apart and working or claiming benefits individually. At some point they move in together and jointly do these things. If it was illegal to live apart and claim seperately as a couple, no relationship would ever begin. You couldnt rely on BF or GF of 2 months to be jointly responisble.

Paparika

alwaysonthego wrote: »

Even if they didn't stay over, they can still be classed as couple due to having children, joint finacial commitments, shared holidays, amount of time spent together.

Ahhh i didn't think about that side too (thanks) there you go i wouldn't have a clue myself.

Why do people do it? is it because they want more money and will do it illegally?
I'm not naive, but surely they know that one day there will be a knock on the door, you even see documentaries on TV about people claiming benefits that they shouldn't. And at what lengths the benefits agency will go to prove it.

I say as soon as lil one is at school, go get a job, if you can't for medical reasons then fine thats perfectly understandable, but those that stay at home just because of missing Jeremy kyle, well no excuse now you can buy a free view box + so you won't miss a thing.

I work hard and honestly for the small amount i get, as a single mum i have help with wtc etc, but i'm also disabled (with no dla at this present time) and still refuse to give up, i need socialisation with people, not fools on tv who want free dna tests.


ooo rant over sorry.

It's just a subject that annoys me when i have had to scape hard for the past 14 years as a mum.

alwaysonthego_2

_shel wrote: »

All very harsh and judgmental answers. If someone was actually considering this and asking advice on here and not sneaking around I assume times must be tough.

Many people live apart for many reasons, working away, not enough space, caring responisibilities etc. And it'sNOT illegal (nobody said it was). What IS illegal is if you claim to be living apart and are actually living together . If you are living apart and you are actually living apart, that means totally, not just having another address but spending majority of the time together in the one home and other home is empty, now that IS illegal.

Couples start as lving apart and working or claiming benefits individually. At some point they move in together and jointly do these things. If it was illegal to live apart and claim seperately as a couple, no relationship would ever begin. You couldnt rely on BF or GF of 2 months to be jointly responisble.

The op has openly admitted that she is thinknig of claiming as a single person when her husband moves out, even though they are still a couple, So i believe these harsh comments (facts) are justified. A lot of people are struggling, but they do not consider defrauding the benefits system.

Your last comment shows you do not have a clue what you are talking about.

bookduck

thefenman wrote: »

I wonder if the old saying "Two can live as cheaply as one" still applies. Maybe not!

Two can starve just as cheaply as one!

ailuro2

All very harsh and judgmental answers.

Sorry, but I don't think that's true at all.

The OP has had some great suggestions on where to seek advice.

It could easily have turned into a "you're a troll, aren't you?" type of thread, but it's hasn't!! People are taking time out to offer the OP advice, that's not so harsh, is it?



I can see why people who pay tax and national insurance would be disgusted by anyone abusing the system, and they can be forgiven for taking to task anyone who cheats the system - why do you think the benefits fraudline number is advertised? they know people resent mis-use of the system and it's a cheap way of policiing it - in other weords, there's always someone willing to tell on you.

Why is it wrong to remind the OP that it isn't a viable long term solution?

shellsuit

bestpud wrote: »

What about the impact on your children?

Dh and I are separating at the moment, genuinely, and our children are heartbroken; it was awful telling them.

Or would you be open and tell them it was in order to commit fraud and the worst outcome is prison for one, or both of you...?

My other thought is, have you actually checked out the financial side of it because we will be a lot worse off?

Seriously, get a grip! You can't put a price on your family FGS! :mad:

I would urge you to think very hard about this as you have children to consider and they don't have the same ability to deal with family splits.

It's not all about money so ask yourself if you really want to mess your children about for the sake of a few quid. :mad:

Sorry if I seem harsh.

I'm sorry to hear about your situation bestpud, I know we had a little bit of a disagreement on here a few days ago, but I wouldn't wish a family break up on anyone as I know how heart breaking it is

OP I wouldn't do what you are thinking, not in a million years!

I'd rather have my family together and live on the breadline, than I would living apart and raking it in.

I'll say actually, if you want to do it and can live with it on your conscience, then go for it, BUT be prepared to then be classed as a scounger, because that's exactly what you will be. Sorry if that's harsh, but it's true.

belfastgirl23

What I'm seeing in your posts is that you don't think this is right morally. And if that's the case then would you not feel wrong if you did it yourself? Not meaning to be awkward but trying to live in a way that's against your own code of conduct is not easy. And might well put pressure on your family at a time when you'd be vulnerable to problems - living apart notoriously puts pressure on relationships.

Unless it's literally a question of feeding your kids I'd say no...

lolababy

I suppose it comes to something when couples would be better off living apart than together. Sad situation.