Tax credits and boyfriend staying overnight

galsam

I stay at my girlfriends house 1 or 2 nights a week
I don't contribute directly to the household financially
I have separate address/post etc
She is concerned we may be viewed as living together and she will lose her credits.
What would the advice be
thanks

NASA_2

That she rings the TCO and advises them of the change in circumstance.

Tax Credits are more liberal with their living together decisions so I'd be surprised if they changed the award notice.

sprite1508

not 100% sure but i think its 3 nights a week, more and they see you as living there. get her to ring up for advice - she doesnt have to give any names or anything to ask advice

NASA_2

sprite1508 wrote: »

not 100% sure but i think its 3 nights a week, more and they see you as living there. get her to ring up for advice - she doesnt have to give any names or anything to ask advice

The three nights thing is a myth. There is no set amount of nights.

zzzLazyDaisy

Do you pay rent/council tax somewhere else?

Are you on the electoral roll somewhere else?

What address does your bank have?

Do you have any shares bank accounts, or other financial arrangements with her?

These are some of the things that might be looked at when considering whether you are living together as husband and wife.

anibell

Go to your local citizens advice bureau for advice. For tax credits purposes it would only be a joint claim if you were married or living together as if you were married. As you're not living together your girlfriend can still get TC for herself. As you have your own place and I assume you maintain it, you would be able to show evidence eg. utility bill, council tax bill etc if challenged. If your girlfriend gets other benefits eg. income support, jobseekers allowance, then the DWP could view you staying a couple of nights a week differently but if you have the evidence it should be okay. If you do decide to live together then you would need to tell HMRC for tax credits and do a joint claim. Hope that helps.