Living together with separate finances

R.Deringer

Hello everyone,

Got a question regarding an Universal Credit and are looking for a guidance before making an application.

My partner moved in with me, with her two children. We have separate finances and share living costs, house rent and bills. I have two non-residential children of my own for whom i pay monthly alimony.
As my partner is looking for a work, and to get any sort of help from Job Centre she needs to apply for a benefit first. Where one of first question is about living with a partner, so yes we are living together but have separate finances so not sure how we should progress with it.

My understanding is, if we apply as one household she'll be worse off just because she is living with me.

TELLIT01

If there is no entitlement to Contribution based benefit, the entire household income is taken into account when living as a couple. Living costs are being shared and the fact that finances are held separately will have no bearing on that. Many married couples maintain separate bank accounts.
Whether your partner will be worse off is not a factor in the decision making process either. Do bear in mind than only one lot of rent, one set of utility bills etc will be paid, all reducing the overall cost.

calcotti

It doesn't matter how you choose to manage your finances. If you are a couple you must apply as a couple and if one partner has a lot of income they are expected to support the other.

R.Deringer

I'm sorry but I did not come here to get advice on how to live.

Me and my partner are both happy with this arrangement and choose to be financially independent of each other. However, as she cannot get help from job center to find job until benefit registration is completed we're stuck in limbo.

sammyjammy

R.Deringer wrote: »

I'm sorry but I did not come here to get advice on how to live.

Me and my partner are both happy with this arrangement and choose to be financially independent of each other. However, as she cannot get help from jobcentre to find job until benefit registration is completed we're stuck in limbo.

There is no help the Jobcentre will give her that is likely to make any difference to her getting a job, just get out there, apply, ask in shops/factories, hand out CVs etc.

You don't get to choose how people reply to your OP, people are just telling you how the benefit system works. The government don't care how you actually chose to run your household anymore than we do.

marliepanda

R.Deringer wrote: »

I'm sorry but I did not come here to get advice on how to live.

Me and my partner are both happy with this arrangement and choose to be financially independent of each other. However, as she cannot get help from job center to find job until benefit registration is completed we're stuck in limbo.

I'm sorry but who gave you advice on how to live?

All people said was the DWP don't care how you maintain your finances, you are a couple and will be financially assessed together, whether or not you 'share and share alike' isnt their concern.

poppy12345

Whether you're financially independent or not, for means tested benefits you claim as a couple and your income is counted.

calcotti

R.Deringer wrote: »

I'm sorry but I did not come here to get advice on how to live.

Me and my partner are both happy with this arrangement and choose to be financially independent of each other. However, as she cannot get help from job center to find job until benefit registration is completed we're stuck in limbo.

I don't understand your response. Neither I or TELLIT01 have offered any advice on how to live. You have asked for advice on benefits. What we have both said is that for means tested benefit purposes a couple is a couple and you cannot choose to be treated separately.

pmlindyloo

R.Deringer wrote: »

I'm sorry but I did not come here to get advice on how to live.

Me and my partner are both happy with this arrangement and choose to be financially independent of each other. However, as she cannot get help from job center to find job until benefit registration is completed we're stuck in limbo.

No one has given you advice on how to live and it was pointed out that lots of couples keep their finances separate, including married couples

The truth of the matter is that if you are living together as 'man and wife' then for means tested benefits then every claim has to be made as a couple.

Perhaps it was the words 'the one who earns more money' has to support the other financially that you are miffed about.

Perhaps it could have been said in a different way but when you cut to the chase that will be the outcome.

It's not so much as to how you arrange your finances (as I said married couples often have separate financial arrangements) but what happens if one or other falls sick and can no longer work or is made redundant? Someone has to step up.

Yours may seem an unusual situation since your partner has two children but I am sure things will be easier when your partner gets a job.

By the way, your partner may not really receive much help to find a job. The job seeking mostly has to be done by the claimant. It is a requirement to receive the benefit.

R.Deringer

Thank you for responses.

It was mentioned that since we are living together, then we are seen as couple therefore we are expected to behave in a specific way. Those test rules are bit dated and cause problems on its own (interesting blog and breakdown of this issue: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/universal-credit-family-structure/).

pmlindyloo wrote: »

By the way, your partner may not really receive much help to find a job. The job seeking mostly has to be done by the claimant. It is a requirement to receive the benefit.

Yes, perhaps we got stuck on this issue too much without seeing bigger picture. She is already working on this end, trying to build her career. However, translating diplomas into recognisable local format takes time. In meantime she needs any type of employment, hence the Job Centre. We'll apply jointly as seemingly there is no other legal way.

Appreciate all responses, thank you again!

calcotti

R.Deringer wrote: »

It was mentioned that since we are living together, then we are seen as couple therefore we are expected to behave in a specific way. Those test rules are bit dated and cause problems on its own (interesting blog and breakdown of this issue: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/universal-credit-family-structure/).

Being treated as a couple isn't a Universal Credit issue. Means tested benefits have always required a declaration of joint income for couples with the underlying assumption that in a couple one member will financially support the other if that is required. The matter of there being only one benefit payment rather than payments to separate members of a couple is a UC issue.