Having guests over regularly.

looby75

I know I'm probably going to regret asking this here but I'm hoping to avoid potential problems with a neighbour who delights in reporting me for benefit fraud since she found out I'm on Benefits and we had dispute a few years ago.

My daughters 17 year old boyfriend has been stopping over at ours a couple of nights a week for the last month or so. They are in sixth form together and we live a lot closer to the school than his family do so he has a long bus journey to get to school from home. So to save him from getting up at silly o'clock a couple of times a week he stops here. He works all weekend but doesn't contribute anything to our house, he is purely a guest a couple of times a week.

Do I need to inform the jobcentre or anyone that he stops here? The only reason I ask is because a friend has warned me that the neighbour has been asking around about who the "young man" is that's "always" at ours (it's blatantly obvious he's my daughter boyfriend as they are usually hand in hand whenever they are together and he's never here without her)

dmg24

I doubt the DWP would be interested (particularly as a young person in education would increase your entitlement, not reduce it!), but given the problems you have had before, why not contact the DWP to advise them anyway?

looby75

dmg24 wrote: »

I doubt the DWP would be interested (particularly as a young person in education would increase your entitlement, not reduce it!), but given the problems you have had before, why not contact the DWP to advise them anyway?

thanks, I did consider it but tbh every time I've ever contacted them about anything it's ended up causing more problems than it's solved, so was hoping to avoid it if possible. Last time I contacted them to change my bank details my claim was suspended for 6 weeks as someone pressed the wrong button (apparently) :eek:

I'll just keep my ear to the ground so to speak for the time being.

Vader123

I would just inform them and be done with it. If as dmg24 says though it may increase your entitlement, I would just go ahead for the sake of being honest.

Though I do have to pick this up though :

He works all weekend but doesn't contribute anything to our house

You see, he is there 2 nights a week. Probably showers there, eats etc and he can do all this without a contribution? You are a low income (because you are on benefits) yet you can afford to not even ask for a token contribution? What about his family? Have they now offered a few quid to help you out?

I find it wierd, and this always happens to families on benefits that they allow people to stay over regulalry (I am not talking about infrequent) but do not expect nor ask for some kind of contribution! Even if its just "bring the wine".

After all you are happy for someone else to pay for your roof and board (ie the government) but not a regular visitor who is benefitting from this!

Vader

dmg24

I agree with Vader123, but would note that it would only increase entitlement if the boy was decided to be living there, which I find unlikely (but impossible to know for sure without the full facts). Of course, if he was found to be living you the OP, his parents could no longer claim for him.

looby75

The cost of him staying here a couple of nights are minimal, I haven't found my shopping costs go up, I just stretch out what we have to go a bit further, no big deal.

His parents don't claim anything for him other than CB, as they both have very well paid jobs, and I wouldn't try to claim any extra as I have already said it doesn't really cost anything for him to stop here 2 nights a week. He has bought a take-a-way a couple of times and has helped me by cutting my grass which I'm not able to do myself so I'm happy with that.

Vader123 wrote: »

After all you are happy for someone else to pay for your roof and board (ie the government) but not a regular visitor who is benefitting from this!

Vader

Actually FTR I'm not happy about it at all, it's a situation I never planned or wanted to be in, and am currently trying to get back into work.

Vader123

looby75 wrote: »

Actually FTR I'm not happy about it at all, it's a situation I never planned or wanted to be in, and am currently trying to get back into work.

My point is that he is using resources, be it food/electricity whatever and the goverment is paying for this (because you asked them to) yet someone else is now benefitting from that and not being asked to chip in either.

Its just the mentality I don't get, but fair enough.

Vader

looby75

Vader123 wrote: »

My point is that he is using resources, be it food/electricity whatever and the goverment is paying for this (because you asked them to) yet someone else is now benefitting from that and not being asked to chip in either.

Its just the mentality I don't get, but fair enough.

Vader

but why should he, he's a guest in our home, do you charge your visitors for the minimal amount of food/gas/electricity they use?

Vader123

looby75 wrote: »

but once the help I receive hits my bank account it's up to me how I spend it,.

Within the rules of your entitlement, yes.

As you say, you have have had your advice, I have said my piece so thats that.

Vader

poet123

To be fair, if a claimant has legal entitlement they should not have to feel that every decision has to have that entitlement factored into it, nor take account that some will view it that as a taxpayer they have a right to question every decision or make them feel beholden. A family friend ( in edcuation) stays over, her entitlement does not increase because of this, so how she achieves this with in her rmeans is purely her own business imo.

Vader123

poet123 wrote: »

To be fair, if a claimant has legal entitlement they should not have to feel that every decision has to have that entitlement factored into it, nor take account that some will view it that as a taxpayer they have a right to question every decision or make them feel beholden. A family friend ( in edcuation) stays over, her entitlement does not increase because of this, so how she achieves this with in her rmeans is purely her own business imo.

I actually agree.

But when she is reported for fraud or suddenly can't make her ends meat, she will be back, claiming low income and the rest of it.

I stand by my post that someone on a low income (paid for by the government) should ask for a contribution for someone who has the means to pay who stays over regularly and benefits from the income from the government.

Vader