Advice re benefits and rules around fraud

coffeelover34

Hi there i am after some advice. if i were to move my partner in with me but didnt advise benefits for a couple of weeks would i get into trouble if they found out even if my partner does notr work and claims no benefits at all? (ima single parent on tax credits/income support at present). The reason i ask is because we want to move in together but need to save some money up for a few weeks before i inform tax credits as im sure new claims take about 2 months to sort out and we will have nothing to live on for 2 months other than child benefit and income support once thats sorted. He is not working at present and not claiming any benefits at all so technically it wouldnt be fraud would it as we would not be getting any extra money we're not entitled to, infact we'd be getting less than we entitled for those few weeks. So if i left it a few weeks to inform income support (he will be added to my claim) and tax credits (to make a joint claim) could i be charged with benefit fraud if they found out? just cant see how i can manage 2 months without saving some money first and he has to leave his accomodation at the weekend

Indie_Kid

You have to inform them ASAP. What grounds are you claiming income support on?

coffeelover34

I am a carer to my elder child and have a baby. he is not working or claiming so i wont be getting any extra money that im not entitled to

McKneff

So why doesn't he work, and why doesn't he claim benefits.


If he moves in with you he is using up your benefits,


It would be fraud if you didn't inform the relevant people.


Who is feeding/supporting him now....who is paying for his accommodation

McKneff

I am confused, you say he does not work and claims no benefits.


You want to save some money ???? how could you do this if you were using more of your income to feed him.
How could you save money.... you would be spending more.

coffeelover34

He finished his job few weeks ago it was temp, didnt sign on as he wanted to find work. he lives with his parents but needs to move out as they are moving to smaller property at weekend. Yes i be using more money if he moves in but not much more i should be able to put some aside, have used up my savings i did have recently to get new flooring so need to start saving again

tomtom256

If you would still be entitled to IS why not just declare he has moved in, no adjustment needed although may may get slightly more as a couple, can't think off the top of my head.

Then tell tax credits and make a joint claim backdated to the date you notified them he moved in.

Technically it wouldn't be fraud as it's a change of circs and in order for it to be fraud the change has to affect your entitlement and if what you say is true then him moving in will not affect your benefit.

However if you do not tell them at the time, they may investigate to make sure the date you have given is correct.

Obviously if you receive single person discount on your council tax then by not declaring him it could cause problems with that.

You would be committing tax credit fraud though if you continued a single claim after you formed a partnership and they may cancel any future awards if you don't declare the change.

Basically the choice is yours.

epitome

If you get Carers Allowance...
Then declare him moving in to Income Support and you will get more IS for him About £40 a week more.
And you should declare to tax credits and Housing Benefit.

If you don't get CA, then you would no longer be entitled to IS, technically it would be fraud, but what wouldhappen is that you would be asked to repay all the IS from the date he moved in and a £50 fine. This assumes you do eventually tell them within a couple of weeks. If you leave for a couple of months then you could find yourself in court.

coffeelover34

I do get carers allowance and yes i realise when he moves in i will be entitled to more money with income support and that wont take long to sort its just the new claim for tax credits takes about 2 months so just wanted a few weeks money behind us to live on while we wait for the tax credits to be sorted

coffeelover34

I tried that i rang and asked them how it works if he is to move in and they said i will need to end my claim and make a new joint one and takes up to 2 weeks for forms, 3 weeks to be scanned on system and 3 weeks to go to payment. I asked if forms could be sent out ready and they said no they cant post them out until the change happens

tomtom256

coffeelover34 wrote: »

I do get carers allowance and yes i realise when he moves in i will be entitled to more money with income support and that wont take long to sort its just the new claim for tax credits takes about 2 months so just wanted a few weeks money behind us to live on while we wait for the tax credits to be sorted

You know when you applied for your benefits, you AGREED to notify the relevant agenices of any changes when they happened, not when it suited you.

Get your partner working to pay their way, problem solved.