Working tax credits and living together

delsus

I am considering moving in with someone I have a sexual relationship with who is in receipt of working tax credits but we are concerned about her loosing her benefits if we do. I am certain that if she did loose her tax credits we would struggle.

We would leave the tenancy in her name and keep our finances separate. However we would be splitting bills evenly and both buying food and I would be looking to ease the burden on rent payments (whether it's paying her directly or just paying a few extra bills in lieu) outside of household costs and both paying our way anything left over would be our own not shared.

I should also mention that she's in a one bed flat so we would be sharing a bed, I was wondering if any of these would make the DWP say we are "living together as if we were married" as opposed to a lodger. I should also say we are not married.

I know my wage would make us ineligible for a joint claim so based on the information above would we be seen by the DWP as "living together as if we were married" or being a lodger who happens to have a sexual relationship?

Thanks for any help you can be.

Torry_Quine

delsus wrote: »

I am considering moving in with someone I have a sexual relationship with who is in receipt of working tax credits but we are concerned about her loosing her benefits if we do. I am certain that if she did loose her tax credits we would struggle.

We would leave the tenancy in her name and keep our finances separate. However we would be splitting bills evenly and both buying food and I would be looking to ease the burden on rent payments (whether it's paying her directly or just paying a few extra bills in lieu) outside of household costs and both paying our way anything left over would be our own not shared.

I should also mention that she's in a one bed flat so we would be sharing a bed, I was wondering if any of these would make the DWP say we are "living together as if we were married" as opposed to a lodger. I should also say we are not married.

I know my wage would make us ineligible for a joint claim so based on the information above would we be seen by the DWP as "living together as if we were married" or being a lodger who happens to have a sexual relationship?

Thanks for any help you can be.

Yes if you live together as described then any claim has to be a joint one.

delsus

Thanks for the reply, I have been reading up a bit more and i have noticed on the money advice service website that when assessing you disability is taken into account for working tax credits as well, I was just wondering whether it would affect any our situation if we decide to move in. She is registered disabled and is in receipt of PIP (not sure which bands) and she does have a disabled person's bus pass. Whether it increases the income threshold in particular. I just want all the information before we make any decisions.

poppy12345

delsus wrote: »

Thanks for the reply, I have been reading up a bit more and i have noticed on the money advice service website that when assessing you disability is taken into account for working tax credits as well, I was just wondering whether it would affect any our situation if we decide to move in. She is registered disabled and is in receipt of PIP (not sure which bands) and she does have a disabled person's bus pass. Whether it increases the income threshold in particular. I just want all the information before we make any decisions.

More info would help. Does she work? or claim ESA if so is it Income Related or Contribution based? Housing benefit? Does she recieve Daily living part of PIP and is it Enhanced or Standard rate?

delsus

poppy12345 wrote: »

More info would help. Does she work? or claim ESA if so is it Income Related or Contribution based? Housing benefit? Does she recieve Daily living part of PIP and is it Enhanced or Standard rate?

She works part time and does get housing benefit, and I'm not sure exactly what she gets for PIP or whether it's enhanced or standard. A brief explanation of the effects of the different PIP rates on the tax credits would be helpful and I could discuss it with her, she's not with me right now

My main concern is my income causing her to loose her tax credits and being worse off as I said we both would like to keep our finances separate outside of household costs.

Torry_Quine

delsus wrote: »

She works part time and does get housing benefit, and I'm not sure exactly what she gets for PIP or whether it's enhanced or standard. A brief explanation of the effects of the different PIP rates on the tax credits would be helpful and I could discuss it with her, she's not with me right now

My main concern is my income causing her to loose her tax credits and being worse off as I said we both would like to keep our finances separate outside of household costs.

If you live together and want to claim income related benefits you don't have a choice to keep separate finances. Housing benefit will also be assessed on joint income. Remember though you'll be running one home rather than two so will have savings there

poppy12345

delsus wrote: »

She works part time and does get housing benefit, and I'm not sure exactly what she gets for PIP or whether it's enhanced or standard. A brief explanation of the effects of the different PIP rates on the tax credits would be helpful and I could discuss it with her, she's not with me right now

My main concern is my income causing her to loose her tax credits and being worse off as I said we both would like to keep our finances separate outside of household costs.

You moving in and working would affect her housing benefit. Anything else i or anyone else can not guess because more info is needed on the PIP award. I suggest you ask her what she claims, or even ask her to put all her details and yours into a benefits calc like this https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator/Intro?cid=9f8722ad-5a56-4555-b945-da6ef03c7991&isNew=False
moving in together means you claim as a couple whether you share your wages/bills or not, it makes no difference.

delsus

poppy12345 wrote: »

You moving in and working would affect her housing benefit. Anything else i or anyone else can not guess because more info is needed on the PIP award. I suggest you ask her what she claims, or even ask her to put all her details and yours into a benefits calc like this https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator/Intro?cid=9f8722ad-5a56-4555-b945-da6ef03c7991&isNew=False
moving in together means you claim as a couple whether you share your wages/bills or not, it makes no difference.

OK thanks for your help, I'll get all the information and look into it further.

FBaby

Her benefit will most likely reduced (from what she is getting now), not her PIP payments.

This is because as a couple, whether married or not, you will be expect to support each other financially. It also take into consideration that jointly, your bills will be significantly lower than separately, especially for rent.

So although your joint income might be lower that your two separate income, your disposable income should not be lower.

Darksparkle

What age are you both?
How many hours do you both work?
What do you both earn?