Kids father staying with me for 3 months? How will this affect benefit?

inchinga

Hi all,

My kids' father lives in Namibia. The benefits people know about him, and I declared that I didn't get any maintenance from him because the amount of money he earns and the exchange rate is so poor, that we'd be talking about small change if he *did* actually pay maintentance. They have stated this is fine.

However, he has scraped enough money for an airplane ticket, but would like to come for a decent amount of time, as he has accrued a lot of extra holiday time at work, and is a part owner in his business. He's thinking of coming over for about 2 - 3 months, so that he can have a really decent visit with the kids.

Needless to say, he will be staying with me, which is ok, but I want to know if I will be classed as having a live in partner if this should be picked up by authorities.

Important facts are that we have been split up for around 6 years, and have no intention whatsoever of getting back together again.
He will have a return ticket.
He will be able to do some work for the company he works for online, and is therefore earning his own money.
He will have access to his own money for spending, but will just be saving money by staying with me.
I am on income support as a lone parent, and am studying and job seeking.

Is there any danger of firstly this being picked up by the authorities? Do I need to make a statement as there is no change in my living circumstances, and he is really only coming for a holiday and when that is over things will be exactly the same?

If you need any info to help with the answer please let m eknow as he plans on booking his ticket this week.

Thanks

NASA_2

Taking what you say at face value then there doesnt seem to be much to worry about. You should still report it to DWP though and let them go through the motions of the living together interview - they will look at things like financial contribution he makes.

inchinga

Thanks for your reply. He doesn't pay any maintenance at all. A friend of mine said that I shouldn't say or do anything to call attention to him being here, because by doing so you invite trouble and have to jump through a lot of hoops.

Another friend of ours went on a holiday for 29 days to australia with her kids (she had 2 family weddings to attend, and the 29 days was essential to be able to go to both, and it was the only holiday they'd had for years).

She told the income support office, and gave them the exact dates and reasons for her long trip, and was verbally told she would be fine.

When she was on holiday, she had no money in her account and they had stopped all housing benefit and income support a week after the holiday started.

This caused no end of hassle, as she had a 4 week interruption in rent money, which got0 her into a lot of debt etc etc. The really annoying thing for her was she got a job soon after her return, and wasn't entitled to the extra £60 per week that you get if you've been out of work for over a year as she had now had this interruption in her claim.

I'm sort of inclined to hope that he won't come to their attention, and if I'm called in, I can give evidence that he is here only for a holiday.

NASA_2

Leaving the UK is a totally different situation. Once your outside the jurisdiction then your claim gets closed in almost every situation.

Its a change of circumstance to have someone else living in your house. You need to report it otherwise you are open to accusations of fraud.

inchinga

Thanks,

Do you know if there is an exact guideline on visitors when you're on benefit? He will have a couple of other people to visit while over here, so maybe we could 'break up' the periods he stays with me to comply
It's stressing me out quite a bit, as he's putting pressure on me, and my friend says I'd be stupid to say anything, and yet I think it would be good for the kids.

Is there an anonymous help line I could call to ask? Every time I have phoned them, even when just finding out about support to study, they have insisted on my details before giving any information, which actually meant I had a problem with one of my courses, as the hours took me over the limit.

It's like walking a minefield when dealing with them, you're scared to call attention to yourself as it could set them off.

NASA_2

inchinga wrote: »

Do you know if there is an exact guideline on visitors when you're on benefit?

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/dwp/dmg/pdf/ch11.pdf

Teahfc

Can scrape together money for an air ticket and enough funds to stay in the UK for 2-3 months yet cannot pay any money towards his Children

Even a few ££££'s per month would help surely ?

Vedder2008

I think you should both get your priorities right, I am a taxpayer and sick of paying for other peoples kids, it's marvelous how he can afford a ticket but not maintanance, I'm sure the benefits office will be interested in his stay however long.

Rich44_2

So how about staying out of the benefit forum then eh?

Have you checked the exchange rate between the 2 countries? Did you bother to ask how long he's been saving for?

No because you read the Mirror or The Sun and they have made your mind up for you

Vedder2008

Your friend is very lucky to be able to afford to go to Australia when she is on income support, I thought that was to help those in real need!

pipkin71

Vedder2008 wrote: »

Your friend is very lucky to be able to afford to go to Australia when she is on income support, I thought that was to help those in real need!

and this forum is for help and advice, rather than a discussion about benefits, which is better suited in the discussion forum further down