Marriage and living separate

Dezza123

Hiya, can anyone give some advice. My and my boyfriend live in separate housing association properties. If we were to get married BUT still live in separate households would this affect benefit entitlements, and if so, how? I have one child and work term time in a school, and my partner is a stay at home dad to his 3 children whom he has custody of. We have no children together. I just wanted to know if marriage would affect anything financially for us both with any help which we currently get if we was to remain separate households. Please no judging, our relationship works really well living separate x

littlegreenparrot

I believe that once you are married you are treated as a single household for these purposes. 

Might be worth a chat with Citizens advice bureau to clarify the position. 

Pollycat

Also posted on the Benefits and Tax Credits board (more replies on that thread):

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6277093/marriage-and-living-separate#latest

TBagpuss

Generally benefits are based on whether you are living as a couple, rather than whether or not you are married. Tax credits are different nd will be affected if you marry, regardless of whether or not you live together. 

However, as most married people who live separately are separating rather than just getting married they may well look into your case as it may well look from the outside as though you are seeking to game to system - so they might investigate you on suspicion of benefit fraud, especially if you regularly stay overnight with your partner.

Dezza123

TBagpuss said:

Generally benefits are based on whether you are living as a couple, rather than whether or not you are married. Tax credits are different nd will be affected if you marry, regardless of whether or not you live together. 

However, as most married people who live separately are separating rather than just getting married they may well look into your case as it may well look from the outside as though you are seeking to game to system - so they might investigate you on suspicion of benefit fraud, especially if you regularly stay overnight with your partner.

Thanks, there is no game to system. We simply live apart, spend two nights a week together maximum and have our own lives. Our relationship works really well as it is. There is no benefit fraud I have always worked and I do not “play the system” 

74jax

Dezza123 said:

TBagpuss said:

Generally benefits are based on whether you are living as a couple, rather than whether or not you are married. Tax credits are different nd will be affected if you marry, regardless of whether or not you live together. 

However, as most married people who live separately are separating rather than just getting married they may well look into your case as it may well look from the outside as though you are seeking to game to system - so they might investigate you on suspicion of benefit fraud, especially if you regularly stay overnight with your partner.

Thanks, there is no game to system. We simply live apart, spend two nights a week together maximum and have our own lives. Our relationship works really well as it is. There is no benefit fraud I have always worked and I do not “play the system” 

What is your reasoning for marriage? Could Wills and PoA cover the reasons instead? 

Kim_kim

Dezza123 said:

Thanks, there is no game to system. We simply live apart, spend two nights a week together maximum and have our own lives. Our relationship works really well as it is. There is no benefit fraud I have always worked and I do not “play the system” 

But your question was “how will this affect benefits?”.

TBagpuss

Dezza123 said:

TBagpuss said:

Generally benefits are based on whether you are living as a couple, rather than whether or not you are married. Tax credits are different nd will be affected if you marry, regardless of whether or not you live together. 

However, as most married people who live separately are separating rather than just getting married they may well look into your case as it may well look from the outside as though you are seeking to game to system - so they might investigate you on suspicion of benefit fraud, especially if you regularly stay overnight with your partner.

Thanks, there is no game to system. We simply live apart, spend two nights a week together maximum and have our own lives. Our relationship works really well as it is. There is no benefit fraud I have always worked and I do not “play the system” 

No, I wasn't suggesting that you were, just that because your situation is unusual, you might find that your arrangements were looked at with suspicion and that you found yourself being checked up on - I would imagine that being accused of or investigated for benefit fraud is pretty stressful even if you are, and know you are, completely innocent.