Tax Credits and marital status

Hootie19

My son and his girlfriend do not currently live together. They are 180 miles apart, and are taking steps to move in together. They have been to see our local council and have been told that they are eligible to apply for social housing. They have also been told to apply for tax credits etc (they have a 7 week old baby).

They have looked at the forms online and have immediately hit a problem with martial status. They are not married or in a civil partnership, they are not divorced or separated and if they select the option of single, then the form then only allows for one person's details to be added.

Should they each be making a separate claim, or should they fill the forms out as though they are married. There is no option for "in a partnership but not living together"?

skintandscared_2

How odd! Seeing as the DWP seem to want to jump all over singles who appear to be "couples" by staying over 2 nights a week, I'm amazed they don't have an option for just a "couple"!

SkyWatcher_3

From the form guidance notes:

"
You must claim as a couple if you are married, or in a civil partnership. If you are legally separated or your separation is likely to be permanent,
you should make a single claim. For example, you are in the process of getting divorced. You must also claim as a couple if you are living with someone as if you are married, or in a civil partnership. You should still make a joint claim as a couple even if you are living apart temporarily. For example, one of you
is working away..." (http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/forms/tc600-notes.pdf)

Best to check with HMRC (and provide the details in writing) but I reckon this will be their answer.

SkyWatcher_3

skintandscared wrote: »

How odd! Seeing as the DWP seem to want to jump all over singles who appear to be "couples" by staying over 2 nights a week, I'm amazed they don't have an option for just a "couple"!

Different agency, different rules.

I'm not sure DWP want to "jump all over" anyone, they just don't want to pay fraudulent claims or for people to claim benefits when they should be able to support themselves.

skintandscared_2

SkyWatcher wrote: »

Different agency, different rules.

I'm not sure DWP want to "jump all over" anyone, they just don't want to pay fraudulent claims or for people to claim benefits when they should be able to support themselves.

I believe the OP's point was that there wasn't an option to just choose "couple"... Keep your hair on, I'm a completely impartial contributor, never having claimed any benefit whatsoever. I was merely commenting on the irony that, from numerous posts on here, I see that "the authorities" seem to want to classify everyone and anyone as a "couple" yet appear to have no such option on their own application forms.

Hootie19

Thank you - they clearly didn't notice the information contained in SkyWatcher's post. I will pass the info on tomorrow (I'm on "baby night duty" tonight to give them a bit of sleep!)