Definition of 'Living with someone' for Tax Credits

missk_ensington

This thread is more out of curiosity than anything and I wondered if anyone could clarify....

My friend is a single mum with 2 kids, works 16 hrs a week and gets quite a bit in chidcare and tax credits - as you'd expect. She has a long term boyfriend who started off staying over a couple of nights, then a couple more, and now he stays there 7 nights a week.

He doesn't contribute to the rent or pay any board - there is no post in his name, as he officially lives at home with his mum. I told her that I thought anything more tha 2 nights a week constitutes living together (some vague recollection of being on income support myself 8 years ago).

Anyway she said she's phoned the Tax Credits helpline to make sure she wasnt doing anything wrong and was told that so long as he can prove his residence elsewhere thats ok, so because his wage slips go back home to his mums and the Sky tv bill back home is in his name, that is sufficient evidence to prove his mums house is his home....

Surely this is open to such abuse if true? Her boyfriend earns a very good salary, and they're buying a house together later this year so he's saving the deposit from his large salary whilst living for nothing at her house - subsidised by the tax payer because they think she's a poor single mum with 2 kids only earning £120 a week.

Her arguement is that he doesnt pay any rent or bills, or give her any money therefore what difference does it make - but his contribution is the house deposit that he's saving, pus takeaways, drinks, food shopping etc.

Any rules experts out there? Im worried she'll end up getting into trouble if her ex, or the exes new girlfriend tries to shop her in or something just out of nastiness - is she doing anything wrong or not?

Thanks

DX2

You've got a new partner

You may have started a new relationship with someone and you're not sure how it will develop. It might be casual at this stage, but it could become more permanent.
Make a joint claim if either of the following happens:

• you start living with your partner as though you are married or in a civil partnership
• you get married or enter into a civil partnership - even if you don’t live together

You've got a new partner - an example of a joint claim

Gail and Barry have been going out for a while and he now spends most of his time at Gail’s house, he eats meals with her and they socialise together. He helps with DIY and sometimes gives her money towards the food. Most weeks he returns to his Mum's for a night to pick up his post and see his family and friends.
Gail and Barry should make a joint claim.
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/start/claiming/get-started/joint-single-claim.htm

missk_ensington

Thanks - I suspected as much but wanted something tangible before I told her!

dseventy

missk_ensington wrote: »

He doesn't contribute to the rent or pay any board -

Sounds like a catch! Staying over 7 nights a week and not paying his way to a single mum of 2 kids who relies on the state to pay their modest income?!?

Shop them in. If you don't someone else will.

D70

Broken_hearted

She could end up in a lot of trouble and yes it is open to abuse.

paddedjohn

missk_ensington wrote: »

thanks - i suspected as much but wanted something tangible before i told her!

dont tell her, tell the fraud team at the benefits agency, what she is doing is a crime/theft

missmontana

He's still contributing to the household by buying shopping etc and if they are viewed as a couple to the outside world then they are classed as in a relationship and living together.