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Would this be considered fraudulent
Blue22
Posts: 363 Forumite
Hi
Could anyone advise on whether this scenario would be considered fraudulent in any way.
Single Mother living in mortgaged house, responsible for all the bills and registered at this address for council tax. Has 2 dependent sons, 17 and 16, both in full time education and 1 non dependent son. Currently claiming WTC, CTC and CB. She has been offered a job 50 miles from home (1.5 hour commuting distance) but would like to stay Monday - Friday with a close male friend, who lives only 15 minutes away from this new work location. He doesn't claim any benefits, although currently receives the single persons discount on his council tax.
So if she did stay there on a regular basis, only returning home at the weekends, would she still be able to claim WTC and CTC from her home address?
Thankyou in advance
Could anyone advise on whether this scenario would be considered fraudulent in any way.
Single Mother living in mortgaged house, responsible for all the bills and registered at this address for council tax. Has 2 dependent sons, 17 and 16, both in full time education and 1 non dependent son. Currently claiming WTC, CTC and CB. She has been offered a job 50 miles from home (1.5 hour commuting distance) but would like to stay Monday - Friday with a close male friend, who lives only 15 minutes away from this new work location. He doesn't claim any benefits, although currently receives the single persons discount on his council tax.
So if she did stay there on a regular basis, only returning home at the weekends, would she still be able to claim WTC and CTC from her home address?
Thankyou in advance
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Comments
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Can't see why not. There are plenty of people who work away and only come home at weekends.0
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Can't see why not. There are plenty of people who work away and only come home at weekends.
The issue is that she would be spending five nights with a close male friend, so they *may* be classed as a couple for benefit purposes.
OP, in situations such as this the claimant needs to get a definitive answer from the relevant agency, which in this case would be HMRC.Gone ... or have I?0 -
As far as council tax is concerned if she hasn't moved her main residence e.g she's only staying at the property for work reasons , then her 'friend' can continue to receive his single person discount and she would be regarded as living at her home address. As pointed out though other agencies may take a different idea of the situation.
As another point though does she trust leaving a 16yr and a 17yr old in the house all week ?I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.0 -
Thankyou all for your replies.The issue is that she would be spending five nights with a close male friend, so they *may* be classed as a couple for benefit purposes.
OP, in situations such as this the claimant needs to get a definitive answer from the relevant agency, which in this case would be HMRC.
Yes DMG that was my thoughts and I will advise her to try to get a definitive answer from HMRC. Although from my experience, it's almost impossible to get through to anyone with the authority to make decisions like this. Do you have any tips on who/what dept. to ask for?0 -
Hi
Could anyone advise on whether this scenario would be considered fraudulent in any way.
She has been offered a job 50 miles from home (1.5 hour commuting distance) but would like to stay Monday - Friday with a close male friend, who lives only 15 minutes away from this new work location.
Would they be sharing a room?I was born too late, into a world that doesn't care
Oh I wish I was a punk rocker with flowers in my hair0 -
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iamana1ias wrote: »Would they be sharing a room?
No I wouldn't think so because the lady in question says she's past all that. But then there is more to whether two people are seen as a couple than just the physical stuff isn't there?
Btw she is not too concerned about leaving the children in the house as they are mature boys and also have an older sibling living with them. Also in any emergency she could always get home in just over an hour. It's just that she doesn't want to make that journey, twice a day, 5 days a week.0 -
The main question that needs to be considered is whether they could be considered co-habiting Monday to Friday, with weekend visits to her children being just that. As said, there are more aspects to a relationship than physical elements. Does she share a room? Does she pay separate identifiable costs for living expenses, i.e. food, share of utility bills etc? There may well be an investigation to look at these things if she were to continue claiming as a single claimant. Normally to claim ctc the child has to live with you, in this scenario it may not be met.0
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