Living with my girlfreind

Malcior

Hi All

I'm a long time user of the website but first time poster.

I've been seeing my girlfreind now for nearly a year and we have been talking a lot about moving in together.

I am employed and earn £15,500pa and my girlfreind is currently out of work and is claiming benefits (Income Support, Tax Credits, Housing, Council Tax) to look after her 2 year old son. She recieves no maintenance from her ex for her child.

How would us moving in together effect her financially? I'm pretty sure she would lose her Housing and Council Tax Benefits but that wouldn't be a major issue as I could pick up that shortfall. But what else might she lose?

Thanks in advance for you help!

Jowo_2

You can model the impact on the Turn2us online benefit calculator.

Malcior

Cheers I will take a look at that now.

podperson

Would imagine she would lose the housing and council tax benefit. She should still get child tax credits and you should be able to claim for working tax credits as a couple since your joint income will be under the threshold. Not sure on the Income Support but since it is income based am guessing it will reduce at the very least.

amynphil

I am a stay at home mum,my husband works full time and I receive child tax credit,my husband receives working tax credits but thats it. We have to pay full rent,full council tax etc and I receive nothing else so I am guessing you girlfriend will be exactly the same as me and just get the child tax credit. As far as I am aware but dont quote me on it income support is for single parents and once a partner moves in she will no longer receive it.
Hope this is helpful and dont strike me down on the income support bit as I maybe wrong but I am purley going on my personal circumstances.

KxMx

It would be worth investigating proper maintenence from her ex, if he is resident in the UK then there is no reason for her not to get money for their child through CSA.

CIS

She'll lose her 25% single person discount on her council tax.

poog

She will keep the Child Benefit of £20.30 a week, and you'll get about £75 a week in Working tax Credits & Child Tax Credits and a little bit of help towards the rent. So she'll lose all the council tax benefit and Income Support.

amynphil

little bit of help towards the rent.
I dont get any help with my rent we have to pay full because my husband works,unless that varies depending on which council/assosiation you are with.

AnxiousMum

amynphil wrote: »

little bit of help towards the rent.
I dont get any help with my rent we have to pay full because my husband works,unless that varies depending on which council/assosiation you are with.

Your husband may earn more than the OP, the rental rates for LHA might be different between the two areas that you and the OP live in, your actual cost of rent may be a whole lot different. There are several factors that come into play when determining what benefits somebody is able to claim.

ETA: Child support from the ex would be very helpful, and her child is entitled to be financially supported as able by both parents. Obviously if his mum moves in with you, you are unofficially taking on some of that responsibility - as by moving in and becoming a family, her 'income' is being decreased. That's the way I looked at it at least when I stayed home to look after our three young ones when I had two from a previous relationship. My partner looked at it that way as well. However, I have always sought, and up until recently, always received on a regular basis child support from their father.

hbgirl

the first thing to definitely go will be income support as she is no longer a lone parent. child benefit will stay the same. child tax credit i *think* might decrease due to your income? but you will probably get working tax credits (if you work 30hrs+). but i can't say how much on these.

housing benefit depends very much on the rent you pay, the area you live in (is it a fair rent for a suitably sized home, private or council etc) and your now joint income. you will probably have to pay some rent and council tax but might get a "top up".

entitledto is a good website for working out what you might get.

BUT, if you are renting privately, the results of the comprehensive spending review are that for many housing benefit claimants their homes may become unaffordable within a few years, so you should try to have a budget that is not totally dependent on benefits.

hope that is helpful and good luck.