Confused

samthompson3117

I only get Tax Credits at the moment due to a disagreement with the job centre. I'm going back to work hopefully on the 1st June. I will be earning £9,500 doing accounting and book keeping that sort of thing. I'm also thinking about when I tell them I have started a job that I am seeing someone. If things work out the way I want them. Now the problem being is this someone earned £1,200 or something a week. Surely they can't take that into consideration since we only just got together. His wages have now went down to £10,000 a year. I've been told the tax credits do it the year before. So will it effect my benefit if they take his previous earnings into account. If they do then that's not fair on me but then I would be breaking the law if I did not tell them. It's not breaking the law having a relationship but it is when that relationship developes. I'm really confused can someone help me.

PippaGirl_2

You don't need to tell either the DWP or the HRMC when you are seeing someone. You only need to tell them when you start living together as a couple. Most people don't live with their partners until the relationship has got to the stage when they are ready to commit and to support each other, so by then I am sure your partner will be ready and prepared to support you when necessary. Honesty when claiming benefits is essential. So fill in all forms accurately, and declare all changes of circumstances which they state they need to know.

You say "it's not breaking the law having a relationship but it is when the relationship develops". It's not breaking the law when a relationship develops, it is only breaking the law if you fail to declare a change in circumstances or complete forms incorrectly. That has nothing to do with the relationship.

samthompson3117

Yes but we might move in together, so what happens then will I lose my child tax credit even though he is on a lower income this year than he was last year

HB58

When your relationship develops to the stage that you want to move in together, you will be expected to support each other in every way. That would mean that your partner would be expected to help support you if you lost your current level of benefits.