JSA and HB and having a partner

holliea

what are the rules on partners and claiming benefits? i'm starting to see someone but the relationship was casual, just sex, but we've had talks and we think we want to be a couple. at the moment he stops over every weekend, pays for some of my rent because he feels bad eating my food and using my gas water etc and has clothes and a laptop here for weekend work. he works full time but has his own house

is this likely to stop my benefits? I know i have to mention it but we're not sure what we want yet so i don't want to mention it then it not happen

HappyMJ

holliea wrote: »

what are the rules on partners and claiming benefits? i'm starting to see someone but the relationship was casual, just sex, but we've had talks and we think we want to be a couple. at the moment he stops over every weekend, pays for some of my rent because he feels bad eating my food and using my gas water etc and has clothes and a laptop here for weekend work. he works full time but has his own house

is this likely to stop my benefits? I know i have to mention it but we're not sure what we want yet so i don't want to mention it then it not happen

There aren't any exact rules...

If he's got his own house and pays his own bills then you should be fine....you are allowed to have casual relationships and he can stay as many nights as you allow as long as you have the final say whether he stays the night or not. Can you ask him to leave at any point...and will he go? If he's named on the tenancy agreement you can't generally ask him to leave without notice at it is his house too. The relationship starts proper when he's named on the tenancy agreement, named on the household bills, sends his mail to the house and a few other indicators. It is OK for him to help out with the extra food, gas, electricity and water he's used etc...as long as it's all voluntary. You would be paying the rent whether he is there or not so don't let him pay anything for that. If you make him pay a fixed percentage...i.e half... then not so good. You should really come to some agreement to not have him pay you anything and you stay at his house every other weekend to even out the costs. He should not be leaving too many clothes at this house. A few is OK but not his entire wardrobe as that really would indicate he is living at the house. I'd be a little worried about the laptop...has he given it to you to use whenever you want? I'd be taking a safer option and asking him to take it with him when he leaves.

If he moves in and either terminates his tenancy, sells or rents out his house so he has nowhere else to stay and moves in most of his stuff then you must inform the DWP, HMRC, Council and whoever else you claim benefits from.