tax credits - getting married but not living together yet. what to tell hmrc

inneedofsomehelp

Hello
I am hoping someone could give me some guidance here. typically my situation isn't straight forward.

My partner and I live separately. Me with my children, him with his parents. He is in the process of purchasing a family home for us all and anticipated all this would be completed by last month, we are due to marry in a few weeks.

As it stands I claim some tax credits for my household, he does not. It is looking like when we marry the house purchase will still not be complete. So for the first few weeks we will continue to live apart.

He cannot move in with us as I have 3 children 2 of whom share my room and my eldest has their own room. If he moved in he would be sharing a room with me and the 2 youngest. Although he will be their step father I do not feel it appropriate for him to share a room with them. We cannot move into his parents home due to space.

So, I realise I need to tell HRMC when we marry as it is a change of circumstance but will my tax credits stop? My tax credits pay for nursery etc so I cannot work without them whilst I am still the only earning adult in the household. When we live together we will no longer claim tax credits as we will be able to manage without them due to combined incomes and only 1 house to keep

sorry for the ramble but I feel it is better to explain in full and give clarity

Thanks

Icequeen99

inneedofsomehelp wrote: »

Hello
I am hoping someone could give me some guidance here. typically my situation isn't straight forward.

My partner and I live separately. Me with my children, him with his parents. He is in the process of purchasing a family home for us all and anticipated all this would be completed by last month, we are due to marry in a few weeks.

As it stands I claim some tax credits for my household, he does not. It is looking like when we marry the house purchase will still not be complete. So for the first few weeks we will continue to live apart.

He cannot move in with us as I have 3 children 2 of whom share my room and my eldest has their own room. If he moved in he would be sharing a room with me and the 2 youngest. Although he will be their step father I do not feel it appropriate for him to share a room with them. We cannot move into his parents home due to space.

So, I realise I need to tell HRMC when we marry as it is a change of circumstance but will my tax credits stop? My tax credits pay for nursery etc so I cannot work without them whilst I am still the only earning adult in the household. When we live together we will no longer claim tax credits as we will be able to manage without them due to combined incomes and only 1 house to keep

sorry for the ramble but I feel it is better to explain in full and give clarity

Thanks

Despite what HMRC materials say, getting married isn't something technically that you actually have to report by law.

What you do have to report is when a single claim ends (because you now are part of a couple).

For the majority of people, this will happen when you get married. But not for everyone (for example where one partner lives overseas they might be married but not a couple for tax credits).

However, if he is present in the UK by getting married you are automatically treated as a couple for tax credits even if you live in separate households.

So you will need to end your single claim and make a new joint claim. Your tax credits will stop whilst the new joint claim is processed.

IQ

Horseunderwater

There is only one thing that Tax credits need to know - that is when you move in together as a couple and thus no longer need to claim TC's at all due to your income level being too high. They are not interested in when you get married as that is believe it or not irrelevant. So get married live apart until the house gets sorted then notify them when you actually move in with him in the new home.

Icequeen99

Horseunderwater wrote: »

There is only one thing that Tax credits need to know - that is when you move in together as a couple and thus no longer need to claim TC's at all due to your income level being too high. They are not interested in when you get married as that is believe it or not irrelevant. So get married live apart until the house gets sorted then notify them when you actually move in with him in the new home.

That is completely wrong. That is the case for DWP benefits where there is a requirement to be married and living in the same household.

Section 3 TCA 2002 does not have a same household requirement. So you are a couple from the date you marry (providing you are both treated as being in the UK)

See http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/ccmmanual/CCM15035.htm

IQ

inneedofsomehelp

Thanks IQ, this will cause issues for me financially after completing an SOA after nursery fees and rent I have £34 a month left before I have paid a utility bill, put food on the table or paid the £150 a month it costs in fuel to get to and from work. I know its only for a month, but a month is a long time where finances are concerned.
Maybe we will have to re-arrange the wedding?

Everyone keeps saying to just re-arrange the living arrangements but 3 kids cant fit in a box room and I have a small open plan diner/living room/kitchen so a bed downstairs isn't an option either. I don't even have a sofa big enough for him as I have 2 small 2 seater sofas

Icequeen99

inneedofsomehelp wrote: »

Thanks IQ, this will cause issues for me financially after completing an SOA after nursery fees and rent I have £34 a month left before I have paid a utility bill, put food on the table or paid the £150 a month it costs in fuel to get to and from work.

Maybe we will have to re-arrange the wedding?

Everyone keeps saying to just re-arrange the living arrangements but 3 kids cant fit in a box room and I have a small open plan diner/living room/kitchen so a bed downstairs isn't an option either. I don't even have a sofa big enough for him as I have 2 small 2 seater sofas

Does he work? How many hours?

IQ

inneedofsomehelp

Icequeen99 wrote: »

Does he work? How many hours?

IQ

Yes he works full time, and we will no longer be entitle to nor need tax credits when we do live together. At the moment he is ploughing every penny into the house move, as well as his own children (who will be coming to live with us too once we move :D )

Its just the interim period really. He's already paying out maintenance at well over the odds and is saving to move his own children to our local area. He would have some surplus to help me with the 'shortfall' but no where near enough for what I would require.

Do you get a run on for tax credits? I have read sometimes you get paid in arrears, if it was the same in my case then a few weeks run on would solve the issues

mummyroysof3

Unless all his money goes on his accommodation then why isn't he helping you out? You will be married so he should IMO

Do all the kids not fit in the big room and you 2 have smaller one just for a short while if its only a few weeks it seems a shame that it can't be done.

Dogger69

mummyroysof3 wrote: »

Unless all his money goes on his accommodation then why isn't he helping you out? You will be married so he should IMO

Do all the kids not fit in the big room and you 2 have smaller one just for a short while if its only a few weeks it seems a shame that it can't be done.

Or the children have the bedrooms and the parents stay in the lounge?

Icequeen99

inneedofsomehelp wrote: »

Yes he works full time, and we will no longer be entitle to nor need tax credits when we do live together. At the moment he is ploughing every penny into the house move, as well as his own children (who will be coming to live with us too once we move :D )

Its just the interim period really. He's already paying out maintenance at well over the odds and is saving to move his own children to our local area. He would have some surplus to help me with the 'shortfall' but no where near enough for what I would require.

Do you get a run on for tax credits? I have read sometimes you get paid in arrears, if it was the same in my case then a few weeks run on would solve the issues

No, tax credits will be stopped the day you report the change of circumstances and to avoid an overpayment you need to do it the day the change happens. The run-on applies if your hours fall below a certain level, then you get a WTC run-on.

With all of those children (including his) and your childcare costs have you double checked you won't be entitled to anything at all?

IQ

mummyroysof3

I think she said its open plan and sofas to small. Missed the bit were he is saving due to more kids coming to live with you? How many will there be OP?