Moving in with my GF who is on Benefits

Big_G_RC

My GF and her son were abandoned by her soon to be Ex husband soon after her son was born. He didn't want to play happy families.

She's now a stay at home mum looking after the baby. We are talking about moving in together shortly, but are unsure how we stand on her benefits.

At the moment she has her rent and council tax paid for and receives the normal benefits in this situation.

Her soon to be ex husband pays his CSA money without fail which helps a lot with all the baby things they need.

If I was to move in would her rent and council tax have to be paid for by me and would she also loose a chunk of her money which she uses for bills/food/etc? or would she just get a reduced amount because I'm living there?

BitterAndTwisted

Benefits will be calculated on your income. The only money she is definitely going to receive is the child benefit and the contribution via CSA. You will be expected to provide everything else if your income is high enough.

Torry_Quine

Big_G_RC wrote: »

My GF and her son were abandoned by her soon to be Ex husband soon after her son was born. He didn't want to play happy families.

She's now a stay at home mum looking after the baby. We are talking about moving in together shortly, but are unsure how we stand on her benefits.

At the moment she has her rent and council tax paid for and receives the normal benefits in this situation.

Her soon to be ex husband pays his CSA money without fail which helps a lot with all the baby things they need.

If I was to move in would her rent and council tax have to be paid for by me and would she also loose a chunk of her money which she uses for bills/food/etc? or would she just get a reduced amount because I'm living there?

All means tested benefits would be affected by you moving in and would now be based on total household income and savings.

cheepskate_2

If you are working she would loose her Income support and you would recieve Tax credits,dependent on your income.
She would loose any single person council tax , not too sure how discounts work, depending on your income you may receive some housing benefit.

pukkamum

Your income would be used to calculate any benefit she is entitled to, you will be expected to be financially responsible for them, dont forget other things may kick in like child and or working tax credit.
Put both your details into entitledto.com as if you were living together.

Big_G_RC

that's what I thought. It almost makes more sense financially for use not to live together

She hates being in the position she's been put in. She will be straight back to work as soon as the baby is old enough to goto child care.

I'm on £18,500 at the moment, but would be getting a new job if I was to move in with her as it's too far to commute to my current job.

thorsoak

If you are going to move in with her, into her home, then you wouldn't have to pay rent anywhere else, would you? Therefore you would pay the rent. She would also lose the 25% single person's discount on her council tax as well as having the benefit rescinded - but once again, you won't be paying it anywhere else, will you?

She will still get Child benefit, and the maintenance from the baby's father, and, depending upon your income, you could claim working tax benefit as a family.

Put all your details into the website http://www.turn2us.org.uk/ - it should show what you and GF are entitled to as a family unit.

It would, of course, be totally illegal for you to move in with her without her declaring her change of circumstances, but you are not suggesting that you do that in any case.

Big_G_RC

I knew about me having to pay rent. What I didn't know was if she would loose the benefit of having 100% of her rent paid for or if when I moved in she would only get 50% of it paid. Didn't know if once I lived there she'd loose it all and I'd have to find £500 to pay the rent every month

fashionlover10

Big_G_RC wrote: »

I knew about me having to pay rent. What I didn't know was if she would loose the benefit of having 100% of her rent paid for or if when I moved in she would only get 50% of it paid. Didn't know if once I lived there she'd loose it all and I'd have to find £500 to pay the rent every month

Where do you live at the moment? Do you not have to pay rent already?

thorsoak

Big_G_RC wrote: »

I knew about me having to pay rent. What I didn't know was if she would loose the benefit of having 100% of her rent paid for or if when I moved in she would only get 50% of it paid. Didn't know if once I lived there she'd loose it all and I'd have to find £500 to pay the rent every month

What rent are you paying at the moment? If you move in with her, could you not share child care and then she might be able to get a part-time job?

Big_G_RC

I currently live with my mum so got it easy paying £300 rent which covers everything.