benefit fraud?

marleyboy

OP - You should be aware the DWP will check into everything surrounding you AND your Ex, all incomings and outgoings, from bill payments, bank statements to online activities. That would include this very thread.

raven83

I've not read the whole thread, but if I am honest it doesn't look good. I would seek legal advice asap. Go to the CAB and they will put you in touch with a solicitor.

Errata

Kim.hill2010 wrote: »

i have dated one other person, all friends/family aware.

the reason i toke him in aswell, hes from yorkshire and i am from midlands, his job is down here, so he had nowhere else to go. i wish i hadnt bothered now.

So you took him in to help HIM out, and the taxpayers help him out by paying his rent. Lucky man.

Arg

dseventy wrote: »

Ah ok.

Well the advice is :

• The OP should have reported a change of circs.
• The family is a low income family so anyone staying there should have paid their share of bills/rent
• You are claiming to be "single" yet let your ex live in your house (that you can't pay for yourself) rent free
• You need to explain the arrangements honestly.
• You need to ask to repay back anything owed in installments.
• Since the ex "cares" about the OP, perhaps he can assist in paying back the monies owed.

Hows that?
D70

That sounds like a list of dseventys wishes not advice on how to get their benefits.

FBaby

Is he paying maintenance for the children? I guess not. They will certainly ask you why not since he is in employment. It really looks like a convenient arrangement ask the way rather than exes under the same roof for good reasons. I believe they are more lenient in cases of a shared mortgage and awaiting the sale of the property neither being able to afford to move but in your situation... Also I assume you are only entitled to a two bedroom where do your children sleep if you both have a room?

robpw2

i feel for you , i don't from what you have said believe that you intedned to commit fraud however it looks likely you have , your best bet is to be open and honest explain everything and then arrange to pay it back.
if you lie you could end up in a whole lot more trouble.

your ex should be contributing to your household as he is living there , i think its time you decided what your relationship with him is ...if you want to be a couple then carry on living together if you want him to remain as an ex i am afraid its time to send him packing , he has to be responsible for himself and pay rent from his wages like everyone else

Elvisia

It sounds as though he moved in for a variety of reasons, and you didn't think that you need to inform them there was a change of arrangements, or that it wouldn't really matter. I think to be honest quite a few people get benefits and assume that money is just theirs and don't realise it comes with a host of conditions. He is living off the state as he's currently living in a housing benefit property.
I would suggest you make an appointment with the CAB and talk it through with them. They can help get your story straight, and I don't mean make sure you get your lies in order but I mean get what is really going on in order, if you go in as you are now they'll pick up straight away that your story is all over the place. You posted on a public board and we're here to help so we can only assume you're telling the truth and advise on that.
If they make a demand for backpayment of the housing benefit then you need to ask your ex for the money as he will have been the cause of this, and get the CSA to get some money out of him too. I also wonder if he's manipulating you a bit as he seems to want everything to go his way? I would have thought someone who was a decent father and ex-partner would at least have contributed towards the rent/cost of living/ cost of children?
Speak to the CAB as they may be able to suggest a solicitor to go in with you who can give you proper advice.

dseventy

Arg wrote: »

That sounds like a list of dseventys wishes not advice on how to get their benefits.

If someones not entitled to them then thats right.

PS, How are you? You feeling better?


D70

Mara69

Kim.hill2010 wrote: »

He doesn't pay any bills, apart from abit of food. He works full time.

This jumps out at me. He lives with you, but does not contribute towards the rent, council tax, gas, electric, water rates, food (other than 'a bit'), wear and tear, etc. Why on earth not? He works full time!

Chrissiew

My daughter was in the exact same position as you with her ex, it was his flat and they just didn't get on any more, he moved out and she stayed there with the kids and claimed IS and child tax credit, he carried on paying the rent so she didn't claim HB, he decided that he had enough of living on sofas so just moved back in, there was nothing she could do as it was private rented and his name only was on the agreement.

She didn't tell the DWP what happened due to things being the same for her it's just that he moved back in, someone grassed her up and she was interviewed under caution, she told them he paid all the rent, he brought and cooked his own food, did his own washing and slept in the spare room. The only money he gave her was £5 electricity money and £40 a week for the kids, they accepted this and no further action was taken.

It is possible for your ex to live in the same house and you both lead separate lives, but I believe if they see you going out together as a family then doubt comes into it, they secretly watched my daughters flat for 2 weeks or so, saw her ex come home every evening from work, they even knew he was late paying his car tax! They never once saw them go out together though as they never did, they saw him take the kids out but never with my daughter as well.