DESPERATELY WORRIED PLEASE HELP(living with partner benefits)

tomtom256

A partner is someone in a common household for benefit purposes.

They do not have to sleep in the same room nor does there have to be a sexual relationship.

Look at some OAP's, they share a house, share the bills but have nothing to do with each other on a social level as such. Often been married umpteen years but love each other like siblings.

They are LT, there is more to it than just the bedroom and sex! But this is what most people get hung up on.

Search for the 6 strands of LT or whatever it's called that decision makers base their decisions on.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

gibson1 wrote: »

Do you live in the same room? If not then you are still 'single.' A partner is defined as someone who is in partnership with you, sharing living expenses, bedroom.

Chris is a housemate, and who you choose to have sex with is your business.

I just hope she doesn't take your advice otherwise she definitely will be prosecuted for fraud if she ever said that in an interview under caution. A 'boyfriend' and 'girlfriend' are partners. Anyone looking in on this relationship would they consider them a couple?

epitome

Housing_Benefit_Officer wrote: »

A 'boyfriend' and 'girlfriend' are partners. Anyone looking in on this relationship would they consider them a couple?

boyfriend / girlfriend are partners of a kind, but we are not talking about partners, we are talking about LTAHAW or LTAMC

bf gf are not necessarily to be treated as LTAMC even if they are in the same house or even in the same household.

11103 et seq
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/378231/dmgch11.pdf

It talks about having a long term relationship. long term plans not now but for the future aswell.

It's complicated stuff and the DWP do get it wrong, so an appeal is a good idea if you disagree.

FBaby

I do find this matter interesting as it does seem to be a confusing area. There is a reference to LTHAW, then there is 'partnership', and then there is 'couple'. What is the difference between the three as you could be sharing a home, space, bed, in all three cases, without sharing finances.

worrywortcrystal

Chris is not a tenant, no tenancy agreement, he is just lodging. No contracts of any kind just pays my grandparents board every month.

yes we are a couple , yes we now share a room and plan to stay together, living together here for at least the time being.

I didnt consider us living together as man and wife as we are financially seperate, share no bills, have nothing in a joint name etc. i thought living as man and wife meant having your own place, like sharing a mortgage and household bills etc.

should i be contacting a solicitor before i speak to DWP? How will i prove this is a recent relationship and that we havent been together the whole time? thats my worry. im terrifid please help

worrywortcrystal

just to clarify the DWP have known from day 1 that he lives here, as he was breifly on benefits himself when he was out of work years ago. what they are not yet aware of is our relationship, a i did not realise it was necessary. I intend to inform them, i am no benefit chet this is a pure misunderstanding im just worried wot happens when i do tell them

rogerblack

blondebubbles wrote: »

So a couple who have been together for years that choose to sleep apart wouldn't be deemed a couple for benefit purposes? I don't think so.

For means tested benefits - not tax credits:
If you have married someone, are in a public relationship, and have children with them - you are single unless and until you first share a house.
'Share a house' is a complex term - but it's quite possible to be inarguably not doing so.

At that point, you are 'living together as husband and wife' as long as the relationship endures, even through temporary seperations.

jobbingmusician

I really wouldn't worry. You weren't a couple when you moved in, you are now, and you are telling them about it. They SHOULD be delighted that you are being so honest. (After all, when were you supposed to tell them? After your first night together? In your shoes I would be saying that I am telling them as soon as you are certain that you are actually a couple!)

rogerblack

blondebubbles wrote: »

I never mentioned tax credits.

I am referring to couples who do live together but for whatever reason may sleep in separate rooms eg due to medical reasons.

Gibson1 suggested that if you don't sleep in the same room then you are single which I do not believe is correct.

I mentioned tax credits as what I posted was not applicable to them.

Not sleeping in the same room - or indeed having sex - does not mean you aren't a couple, if you share a house, and are a in a relationship as more than friends.

Similarly - even having children and being married doesn't make you a couple if you do not share a household.

worrywortcrystal

Can anyone help with the answer to my questions? Please? I am really worried out of my mind and could use the advice.

1. How can I prove we have not been in a relationship for the whole 9 years we have lived under the same roof? Will they just believe me that its only been a few months?

2. How will they investigate how long we have been together? Will they question friends? My grandparents? Chris's colleagues?

3. Is it likely I am going to be prosecuted?

PLEASE ANYONE