Claiming while separated.

Cryingemoji

Hi all 

Have separated from my h but still living together currently (for 3 more weeks).  Can I apply for Universal Credit now?  Won't it ask me if I have a partner living with me? 

Also can my 19 year old who's living at home also claim her own Universal Credit.  Would it affect my application?  She doing an apprenticeship which I've googled and it says that's ok.

Thank you.

Rubyroobs

Yes you can claim as single now as long as all finances separate and living separate lives etc.
Your 19 year old could claim but whether she receives any Uc will depend on her apprenticeship wage. She may not qualify for anything given that she won't be able to add any housing costs to her claim whilst living with you.

Cryingemoji

Rubyroobs said:

Yes you can claim as single now as long as all finances separate and living separate lives etc.
Your 19 year old could claim but whether she receives any Uc will depend on her apprenticeship wage. She may not qualify for anything given that she won't be able to add any housing costs to her claim whilst living with you.

Thanks for replying.

Hmm our finances are still tangled as we have a joint account which is overdrawn.  He is currently paying for everything though as I have no income.

Newcad

I think that you have to ask yourself in what sense have you seperated?

You are living in the same property, you have a joint bank account.
Just because his wages are the only ones going in there so what, that's how many couples do it with only one partner working.

Which begs - Where would you expect any benefits to be paid to?
 If you are truly seperated the you will have your own account to pay single persons benefits into.

To show that you are indeed seperate and not still a couple then you will need to show seperate finances.
(PS. Sleeping arrangements are irrelevant here, many couples sleep in different beds or even different rooms.

Ex couples can and do have their own benefits claims while living in the same property, but they do have to show that they are indeed seperate. The DWP will of course always be suspicious of such an arrangement and will want thorough evidence of seperate lives.

What you have at the moment sounds just the same as many couples live rather than any kind of separation, and the DWP will take that view too, at least initially.
You may be able to persuade them that you have already seperated though if you are moving out and do have somewhere to move to. (You will need to show evidence of that, something like a tenancy agreement).
Other than that it's probably best if you do wait 3 weeks to move out before claiming.

Cryingemoji

Newcad said:

I think that you have to ask yourself in what sense have you seperated?

You are living in the same property, you have a joint bank account.
Just because his wages are the only ones going in there so what, that's how many couples do it with only one partner working.

Which begs - Where would you expect any benefits to be paid to?
 If you are truly seperated the you will have your own account to pay single persons benefits into.

To show that you are indeed seperate and not still a couple then you will need to show seperate finances.
(PS. Sleeping arrangements are irrelevant here, many couples sleep in different beds or even different rooms.

Ex couples can and do have their own benefits claims while living in the same property, but they do have to show that they are indeed seperate. The DWP will of course always be suspicious of such an arrangement and will want thorough evidence of seperate lives.

What you have at the moment sounds just the same as many couples live rather than any kind of separation, and the DWP will take that view too, at least initially.
You may be able to persuade them that you have already seperated though if you are moving out and do have somewhere to move to. (You will need to show evidence of that, something like a tenancy agreement).
Other than that it's probably best if you do wait 3 weeks to move out before claiming.

Thank you for replying.

It's my ex that moves out in 3 weeks and he already has a tenancy agreement with his new place.

I have got on and applied as it can take weeks to go through.  It did actually ask me on the application about my current status and I was able to select 'still living with ex partner'.

We are in the process of dividing up our finances, but this will take time.

I do get what you're saying...

Newcad

Ah, sorry I got the wrong end of the stick there with who was moving.

As he does have a TA then that's a clear intention of separation and should be enough for the DWP.
As you note from the option on the application it is something that the DWP do see, they just need to be sure that the couple are indeed 'Ex' and are not just trying to claim more in benefits than they are entitled to as a couple. (and they do frequently see that happening too, which is why they get suspicious).

Hopefully all goes well for you, as much as any breakup can.

peteuk

Cryingemoji said:

Newcad said:

I think that you have to ask yourself in what sense have you seperated?

You are living in the same property, you have a joint bank account.
Just because his wages are the only ones going in there so what, that's how many couples do it with only one partner working.

Which begs - Where would you expect any benefits to be paid to?
 If you are truly seperated the you will have your own account to pay single persons benefits into.

To show that you are indeed seperate and not still a couple then you will need to show seperate finances.
(PS. Sleeping arrangements are irrelevant here, many couples sleep in different beds or even different rooms.

Ex couples can and do have their own benefits claims while living in the same property, but they do have to show that they are indeed seperate. The DWP will of course always be suspicious of such an arrangement and will want thorough evidence of seperate lives.

What you have at the moment sounds just the same as many couples live rather than any kind of separation, and the DWP will take that view too, at least initially.
You may be able to persuade them that you have already seperated though if you are moving out and do have somewhere to move to. (You will need to show evidence of that, something like a tenancy agreement).
Other than that it's probably best if you do wait 3 weeks to move out before claiming.

Thank you for replying.

It's my ex that moves out in 3 weeks and he already has a tenancy agreement with his new place.

I have got on and applied as it can take weeks to go through.  It did actually ask me on the application about my current status and I was able to select 'still living with ex partner'.

We are in the process of dividing up our finances, but this will take time.

I do get what you're saying...

Take the day you applied as day 1 of your assessment period, which will last just under a month (eg 04 Mar - 03 Apr) you will be notified of the amount payable a couple of days afterwards and then payment will be 5-7 days after 03 Apr.  It’s a five week process.

If you’re struggling you can take an advance, which is then paid back from your claim. There are pros and cons to this.

I would use a benefits calculator to work out how much you may expect to receive.

sheramber

Have you have you sorted out that ex is changing his DDs to his own account?

Wesker

I'm going through a similar situation at the moment and have classed my ex as a lodger as he is still living in my house while he looks for a place of his own.

Cryingemoji

@sheramber not yet, but it's something we need to get on and do.  We've both set up our own separate accounts now.

@Wesker sorry you're going through this too.  It's rough still living with them.  

Wesker

Cryingemoji said:

@Wesker sorry you're going through this too.  It's rough still living with them.  

Yes it is hard especially as he is already dating someone else   
Luckily we aren't  married and no children and separate bank accounts but been together 8 years, and known each other a lot longer