Should Boyfriend move in?

Debicj

Having been in a similar situation myself, I was advised by the benefits department that there is no 'legal' limit of 3 nights. The whole situation is looked at to decide whether or not he 'lives' with you. This includes whether you share bills, sleep together and the rest of a 'shared life'. If he is paying bills, rent, etc. elsewhere and does not contribute financially to your household then technically he lives elsewhere but who knows what decision the benefits department would make. You would only find that out if they look at your situation.

I understand your worries about your financial position. I 'lost' £700 per month in tax credits, etc. when I married my husband and he moved in with me. This puts me and my kids in the position of depending on him financially and after having been left by my first husband with no income and 2 small children, I am wary of this happening again. It took a long time to get back on my feet and I wouldn't want to go through that again! Sometimes, I look back and think I would have been better off living apart from my husband until my kids are grown up. This is for financial and other reasons. However, I don't know if we would have stayed together without the commitment of family life. Relationships are funny things and don't go to plan. Only you can assess your situation and it's really nobody else's business.

You stand to lose most of your tax credits and gain an increased council tax bill. The maintenance for your daughter won't be affected unless your ex moves in with a partner who has children. Then it may be reduced a bit as they give allowances for children in the household. Your partner's income won't have any affect on maintenance paid via the CSA.

I hope this helps.

ailuro2

esoralle wrote: »

I believe I will only be entitled to minimal child tax credit and as my income is £25K and my boyfriends is £26K.

I just want to know where I stand, as although I don’t want to abuse the benefits system, I believe I may actually be better of staying as a single parent.

Also, my boyfriends stays at my house pretty much every night, is this classed by the tax credit / maintenance people as ‘living with me’, even if he is registered (driving license / bank et) and paying rent at another address.

He'd more than likely be classed as living with you, and while you say you don't want to abuse the benefits system you might well be doing that already , iyswim.

Why not contact the benefits agency and ask them what the correct story is?

poppyscorner

esoralle wrote: »

It is more my daughters father making threats to cut his maintenance if boyfriend moves in, I just wanted to know where I stood on that, personally I would just like to tell the ex to stick his maintenance!!!

If that's how you really feel then I think you are allowed to tell him to and not claim it there is no law that you have to claim as I understand it (not when you're working youself and have a healthy income anyway) just the law that says he has to pay a fair amount (decided by CSA and according to his income) if you do.

Of course I could be wrong and I await being corrected if I am.

Good luck with it all

Violetta_2

esoralle wrote: »

This is moneysaving expert is it not? Not bloody Jeremy Kyle!!!!

Glad you clarified that bit, I did wonder.