Please help

Singlemumof3

I have 3 kids but split from my husband in 2000,we haven't divorced (my ex husband is gay and I won't be marrying again,once bitten and all that) anyway due to personal circumstances beyond our control my ex husband moved in with us. He has his own room,we share the kitchen and bathroom that's it,my living room is for me and my kids my ex is hardly ever here (he lives as a gay man) he does NOT pay anything towards utility bills food bills etc and doesn't pay me anything towards the kids (we are both on benefits) now an ESA compliance officer must meet with me to answer more questions about us living together (I don't agree with the statement "living together") which I'm quite happy to do but as far as I'm concerned what else do they need to know? I can't help but worry about this because as I said I have 3 kids to think about and I'd be quite happy to tell him to leave but he has a lot of health problems and no where else to go,I really don't no what to think?? Any help would be very much appreciated :huh:

tomtontom

He is your ex for a reason - why do you feel obliged to put him up?

bloolagoon

I've seen on here that married people are treat differently. I'm not prying but why have you not divorced? It's my limited understanding that tax credits very much expect a married couple to be a couple if living together. I don't know how ESA view it though.

FBaby

So he's got it good, claims benefits and doesn't pay a penny towards bills nor his children so can have enough disposable income to be out all the time. No kidding he doesn't want to move out!

jules8542

Maybe worth knowing and to your advantage in respect of legal things etc you are able to be legally separated evidently, according to my solicitor. Then you can call your situation more of a house share or he is classed as a lodger instead of just your ex. Maybe worth looking into, even ask for free half an hour with family solicitor at Cab.

He is still liable to pay his bills and maintenance whilst living with you even on benefits. Good luck

Singlemumof3

I don't feel obliged but we went through a nightmare that affected the whole family and it was more for kids to feel safe in their own house that he's here,he's no bother I hardly see him (which to be honest I couldn't care either way) there's no reason as such why we haven't divorced it just didn't seem important but I'm going to look into legal seperation/divorce as soon as I can,thanks for the replies really appreciate it

pmlindyloo

Are you claiming any benefits as joint claims? Or are they single claims?

Housing Benefit/ Council Tax reduction? ESA?

If you are claiming HB or housing costs did you declare that your ex was living with you?

What about tax credits/ Are you claiming these? Joint claim/single claim?

If you have any of these claims as single claims then you could use them as 'evidence' that the single claim was accepted based on ?????