Leaving Work due to Stress

Loopy_Girl

But she's not asking about WTC...she wants to give up work completely and claim lone parent IS

Deepmistrust

Loopy_Girl wrote: »

But she's not asking about WTC...she wants to give up work completely and claim lone parent IS

I know.

I'm pointing out that for WTC purposes they do not consider her a couple. They will already consider her a Lone Parent. Perhaps the DWC rules are exactly the same in this scenario.

I'm also pointing out that if (as many people are suggesting) they SHOULD be considered a couple for benefits purposes, then the logical outcome would be that as he already works full time (abroad), she can happily give up work, and claim WTC based on his (extremely low) wages. So in fact, making her even better off (in terms of benefits WTC v IS).

AnxiousMum

savagej wrote: »

unless you tell them how can the DWP know you still keep in contact and I think given the fact he was kicked out of the country surely cant make him your partner for benefit purposes, it defies everything the government are doing from what I understand. If he was not good enough to be a british citizen by your I marriage, how can they then turn around and say he his still your partner.

I think you need to seek proper advice and that whoever said he is still your partner made a mistake. Say you have split from your partner which is a question on the form, he cant get much further away and when they ask why say the british governement considered our marriage a scam.

Of course he is still her partner - they are still a couple, married, planning children, fighting immigration laws to be together here in the UK, and while she has been working, she has been supporting him financially - they are very much a family, and she is very much not a single parent.

OP - when his immigration issues come around - they are going to ask how you can financially support him. They will ask to see bank account statements etc., and if it is seen that you are collecting single parent payments, and collecting benefits as a single parent - not only will he be refused entry for sure, but you could very well be done for fraud by the various agencies. I know you don't want to purposely do anything illegal, but before you make any decisions on what to do, I would want to see in writing from these agencies that they will regard you as a single parent IN WRITING before you go leaving any employment.

It seems like a big part of your problem is childcare during the summer holidays - on your HOUSEHOLD income - (not claiming as single but declaring all household income) - do you qualify for any childcare costs? You would still declare his income, but as it's not much, it won't make a whole lot of difference in what you would receive. You just wouldn't get any funds to cover your husband at all as if he were living here and was entitled to public funds.

While you certainly do have alot of stress at the moment, alot of it is circumstantial - the situation at work, the husband being out of the country etc., and if you think about it, depriving yourself of money to support your family will only add to this stress. If your emotions are in such a state due to the miscarriage that you cannot focus on your job - have you spoken to your doctor about signing you off work for a couple of weeks to focus on reducing your stress, and getting to a point where you are on top of it all?

We all have situations that arise that 'we need breathing space from'.......unfortunatley quitting our jobs is not always the best answer - geesh, I know the stress that would cause here - but sometimes somethng simple like taking up running - where you get to take half an hour just for you, or meeting a friend for lunch etc. can work miracles in lifting our spirits.

I know you're not in an easy situation - but I'd hate to see you land yourself in hot water and in the end, make matters alot worse.

Deepmistrust

AnxiousMum wrote: »

Of course he is still her partner - they are still a couple, married, planning children, fighting immigration laws to be together here in the UK, and while she has been working, she has been supporting him financially - they are very much a family, and she is very much not a single parent.

OP - when his immigration issues come around - they are going to ask how you can financially support him. They will ask to see bank account statements etc., and if it is seen that you are collecting single parent payments, and collecting benefits as a single parent - not only will he be refused entry for sure, but you could very well be done for fraud by the various agencies. I know you don't want to purposely do anything illegal, but before you make any decisions on what to do, I would want to see in writing from these agencies that they will regard you as a single parent IN WRITING before you go leaving any employment.

It seems like a big part of your problem is childcare during the summer holidays - on your HOUSEHOLD income - (not claiming as single but declaring all household income) - do you qualify for any childcare costs? You would still declare his income, but as it's not much, it won't make a whole lot of difference in what you would receive. You just wouldn't get any funds to cover your husband at all as if he were living here and was entitled to public funds.

While you certainly do have alot of stress at the moment, alot of it is circumstantial - the situation at work, the husband being out of the country etc., and if you think about it, depriving yourself of money to support your family will only add to this stress. If your emotions are in such a state due to the miscarriage that you cannot focus on your job - have you spoken to your doctor about signing you off work for a couple of weeks to focus on reducing your stress, and getting to a point where you are on top of it all?

We all have situations that arise that 'we need breathing space from'.......unfortunatley quitting our jobs is not always the best answer - geesh, I know the stress that would cause here - but sometimes somethng simple like taking up running - where you get to take half an hour just for you, or meeting a friend for lunch etc. can work miracles in lifting our spirits.

I know you're not in an easy situation - but I'd hate to see you land yourself in hot water and in the end, make matters alot worse.

I'm imagining, as she works, she is already claiming WTC. For WTC purposes she IS a single parent. Assuming what she has said to be correct, then she is correct in making a "single claim".

They are likely to be one of the organisations that has confirmed she is for WTC purposes "single".

AnxiousMum

But if she were to quit her job and claim IS as a single parent........?

Deepmistrust

savagej wrote: »

unless you tell them how can the DWP know you still keep in contact and I think given the fact he was kicked out of the country surely cant make him your partner for benefit purposes, it defies everything the government are doing from what I understand. If he was not good enough to be a british citizen by your I marriage, how can they then turn around and say he his still your partner.

I think you need to seek proper advice and that whoever said he is still your partner made a mistake. Say you have split from your partner which is a question on the form, he cant get much further away and when they ask why say the british governement considered our marriage a scam.

At danger of repeating myself. She most likely is claiming WTC (as she is in work). So was most likely told at some point that for WTC purposes she should make a single claim. Like it or not, no mistake has been made if this is the case.

Deepmistrust

AnxiousMum wrote: »

But if she were to quit her job and claim IS as a single parent........?

She's already said she wouldn't deny being with him.

I am working on the assumption that if this is a rule for WTC purposes, it's also quite possibly the same rule the DWP use in these circumstances.

No one is really addressing the proper definition that the DWP would use in this case. I've posted up the HMRC definition, and it seems she is quite correct, for WTC purposes they are NOT to make a couple claim, but she is to make a single claim.

Loopy_Girl

Deepmistrust wrote: »

At danger of repeating myself. She most likely is claiming WTC (as she is in work). So was most likely told at some point that for WTC purposes she should make a single claim. Like it or not, no mistake has been made if this is the case.

No one is saying that a mistake has been made. Under HMRC rules she is allowed to claim as a lone parent.

DWP rules however could be different.

Loopy_Girl

Deepmistrust wrote: »

I am working on the assumption that if this is a rule for WTC purposes, it's also quite possibly the same rule the DWP use in these circumstances.

Unlike HMRC, DWP do not have a definitive rule and each case is decided on it's own merits hence why she would be better phoning and checking (though I suspect she has made her mind up already to be honest)

Deepmistrust

Loopy_Girl wrote: »

No one is saying that a mistake has been made. Under HMRC rules she is allowed to claim as a lone parent.

DWP rules however could be different.

Yes they did. I've even highlighted in the quote (a couple up) where it was made.

Under DWP rules it could also be the same as HMRC. Which is what I've been pointing out all along. No one is actually addressing whether she can claim it or not in this respect. But instead we are getting opinions on whether they are a couple. We know they are a couple, but we do not know whether the DWP consider them a couple for IS purposes, although we DO know that WTC in the same circumstances DOES NOT consider them a couple.