Universal Credit query

Pablolufc

Hi - my wife and myself are currently in the early stages of divorce. We currently have both personal bank accounts and a joint bank account for bills - our average monthly bills including food are around £3000. I pay £2300 while she pays £700. She works part time and has no intention of increasing her hours as financially she says she is better claiming for benefits. She has just made a successful claim for Universal credit and is now in receipt of £629 a month. Considering albeit single but still under the same roof I am still paying the majority of bills. Is is correct that this claim was accepted or should I be asking her to contribute more to the bills until the divorce?

Thanks for any information

Spoonie_Turtle

If you are no longer living together as a married couple (as in, no longer having that sort of relationship) then it can certainly be correct that she can claim UC as a single person.

How you decide finances is a matter for you both to discuss and come to a mutually acceptable, equitable agreement.

Pablolufc

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81901269#Comment_81901269

Thanks for that - she says she has no obligation to look for extra hours or increase her earnings. Is this also likely to be correct?

Spoonie_Turtle

As you don't mention any children, it depends on her earnings. If she earns above a certain amount (currently £952) in an assessment period she won't be expected to look for more work.

If she's responsible for a child under 3, or she cares for a severely disabled person, then she won't have to look for work regardless of earnings.

Pablolufc

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81901324#Comment_81901324

We have 3 children all in full time education. She earns approx £1400 after tax. Why would she not be expected to look for more work? Thanks again.

Spoonie_Turtle

She earns above a set threshold (the Administrative Earnings Threshold, currently £952 for a single person). People who earn above that aren't required to seek extra work.

Pablolufc

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81901416#Comment_81901416

Thanks - it makes my case easier that she is now more likely to be classed as financially independent. However it does seem to make a mockery of the system as she is effectively being paid not to work.

sammyjammy

There has to be a standard level of earnings or the system wouldn't work, its based on number of hours at minimum wage.

If you are both funding the joint account and uying food as a household and eating it I'd question whether the UC claim is valid at this point in time.

Pablolufc

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81901584#Comment_81901584

I put around £2000 in the joint account while she pays £600 in. She is going to buy her own food from now on. While coming out of the joint account all the bills electric/gas/sky etc are in my name from historic accounts. The only bill which has her name on is the mortgage which has both our names on. We do have a family car which is financed by me and in my name which comes out of my personal account. I was just concerned because this seems like a large sum of money without any real checks.

TimeLord1

You really need to draft up letters of an interim agreement of who will pay what, when, and how much and keep copies. If she disagrees and it later goes into court, you can show you made reasonable steps to keep the finances fair and reasonable. You also need to factor in potential legal costs later. Visit your citizens advice for help with ideas for drafting up an agreement.

tomtom256

If you still have joint finances etc, the DWP may still deem you to be a couple. As on paper, nothing appears to have changed.
Just food for thought, as she would have needed to decalre the joint accounts on her claim.