Getting back with partner

flashnazia

Hi

I have a question and would really appreciate some help.
I give advice to clients and one in particular has a problem that I am a bit stumped with.

She is currently a single parent with two kids. She is on full income support with all the trimmings. (council tax benefit etc).

she is only a single parent because of a violent partner and her kids have same dad.

She is not a scrounger and she hates being on benefit. She wants to get back with her partner as he has turned over a new leaf. ( I personally don't trust violent exes but it's up to her ).

The only problem is that she is terrified of the benefits police(!). A friend of hers claimed to have got lots of grief after getting back with her partner. They wanted endless payslips from him and proof of where he was living for the past five years etc.

My client is of a very nervous disposition and something like this would throw her over the edge.

Is it really true that Benefits agency give you all this grief? Is my client under any obligation to provide info as she is coming off benefits not claiming them.

If it's really true that they hound ppl coming off benefits like this then it's bloody ridiculous.

They should be happy when someone stops claiming!

Really appreciate the help.

TheWaltons_3

What is the nature of your job?

Scarlett1

flashnazia seems your client is listening to scaremongering, all she would have to do is let the DWP and the Council know she is no longer a single parent and they will stop her claims, they might ask for payslips to decide whether she might still be entitled to a top up of benefits.

Penny-Pincher!!

flashnazia wrote: »

Hi

I have a question and would really appreciate some help.
I give advice to clients and one in particular has a problem that I am a bit stumped with.

She is currently a single parent with two kids. She is on full income support with all the trimmings. (council tax benefit etc).

she is only a single parent because of a violent partner and her kids have same dad.

She is not a scrounger and she hates being on benefit. She wants to get back with her partner as he has turned over a new leaf. ( I personally don't trust violent exes but it's up to her ).

The only problem is that she is terrified of the benefits police(!). A friend of hers claimed to have got lots of grief after getting back with her partner. They wanted endless payslips from him and proof of where he was living for the past five years etc.

My client is of a very nervous disposition and something like this would throw her over the edge.

Is it really true that Benefits agency give you all this grief? Is my client under any obligation to provide info as she is coming off benefits not claiming them.

If it's really true that they hound ppl coming off benefits like this then it's bloody ridiculous.

They should be happy when someone stops claiming!

Really appreciate the help.

I would suggest your client go to the CAB.

PP
xx

Rain_is_Insane

Personally i'd inform them of my change in circumstances and state any further monies paid will be classed as a parting gift

They can't hound her if she comes off benefits, the only thing they will do as Scarlett says is ask for proof of earnings if she wants to carry on claiming anything as a couple. 5 years seems a bit extreme though

flashnazia

Thanks for the replies.

I'm an advice worker for a charity.
But is it really true they don't start asking a thousand questions when you try to sign off? I think the idea behind this thinking is that the DWP really want to know if you were NOT living together beforehand. Apparently they ask for proof of Partner's previous address for past five years too.

I can believe that the DWP would do something like this as honest ppl trying to do the right thing are often hounded in my opinion!

lil_me

When my partner moved back in with me I was asked no questions like that. In all honesty if she's got nothing to hide there is nothing to be concerned over.

As for can they ask you these questions, yes of course they can. Usually as long as the claim is cancelled as soon as the partner moves in, the dates match (they don't put a form in stating they moved in 5 months ago etc) and they have no concerns that the couple have been sharing a home previously, I can't see why they would hold a full interview. I do know one lady who went and made an appointment to stop claiming, she was asked how much her partner earned etc and the lady gave her info on how to claim WTC and told her what she may be still entitled to, nothing wrong with that IMO.

I would be concerned if approached by a person through the charity I work for if they were nervous about being asked such questions and be wondering if there is something which is illegal happening and they were hiding something. I know I would be reluctant to offer any advice if I was unsure of what the true situation was.

flashnazia

She has got mental health problems and she gets very nervous, which is why she was scared about getting interviewed etc.