UC and living together

abcref

Hi, will try to keep this as short as possible here is the situation.

We are a family of 7 in 3 a small bedroom property. (3 over 18's)

My boyfriend is looking at changing job. Currently I work 2 days in work and self employed from home between 3-5 days depending on work load. My oldest lad does shift work and partner will be working nights if he takes on new job. He currently works self employed 7 nights a week so we haven't had holiday etc for over 10 years. Although he will still be working nights it's different hours and I wake to the slightest sound (my boyfriend has to set alarm for every 2 mins for at last 30mins just to wake up and even then I usually have to give him a nudge) so him going in and out and his alarms will prob end up with me getting no sleep lol

We have looked previously at one of us moving out simply due to not having the space but felt our youngest was too young to understand what was going on. He now understands the days I work etc because he just loves to remind me when I need to go into work lol. Also I don't feel the children will notice that much change now as they are all in full time school so he will sleep in the day at my parents on the 3 days I work from home and the other 2 week days he will need to be at my house as my 16 year old is home schooled and has to have supervision and needs his pc etc for alot of his work.

Because of the current sleeping situation he will be moving in with my parents due to me having to sleep downstairs and I am a very light sleeper. Boyfriends mom passed away nearly 20 years ago and only met his dad twice around 15 years ago and doesn't keep in touch with any other family members.

Sleeping situation just to help make sense of everything.

Oldest (21) is currently in the tiny box room 7ft X 7ft

2nd oldest (16) has the other small room. Approx 8ft x 12ft

2 girls share the big room (11 & 9)

Me, my boyfriend and my youngest lad sleep downstairs.

My boyfriend might still stay over when he has night off and my oldest is on night shift or staying out as my youngest will sleep in his bed.

Me and my boyfriend have tried to get 4 bedroom on council but very rare any come up and if we go private we would have to put around £500 a month towards rent. This would be fine if my self employed was always on lthe higher end but I can have 2 months high amount then 6 months low etc.

He will continue to do school runs on the days I am in work etc but my 16 year old is home schooled so he will be there during the day to ensure he does his work but most require his pc etc.

My boyfriend will be paying my mom some money for staying there etc and our bills will be separate. (they are separate now apart from rent)

The only bills he will have in his name if he moves are his car insurance, a loan and a credit card as everything else is obviously in my parents names.

We want to do things as a family when time permits this, as this is something we have been unable to do for many years.

Please note we looked at him getting a place but it's just too expensive.

Do we need to continue with joint claim or would I need to do a single claim?

I know I have rambled but not been up long and trying to write as fast as I can before the kiddos wake up. If anything doesn't make sense let me know. Thanks in advance for taking the time to read and any advice you may be able to give.

huckster

yes it will still be a joint claim. Living together enough and shared finances.

Robbie64

You could report the situation to UC and let them decide. Post on your journal what you've posted above (though you may have to post it over two posts to get it to fit into the limitations of the UC message system) Normally, to get UC as a couple you have to be part of the same household. Your situation is complicated though not unique as people live apart due to a variety of reasons while maintaining a common household. Examples are where one partner works away from home. My take is that you would still be classed as living together but at least you've let the DWP decide.

Can your 21 year old not move to your mum's and your boyfriend can then sleep in the box room? It would free up space in a way that might work better for all concerned. It's not ideal for anyone, least of all the person having to move out. You say that your boyfriend takes some waking up - is your mother going to be expected to do this?

nannytone_2

as above…. It would make sense for your 21 yo to move to your mums, rather than your partner. An 8 x 12 room is ample for 2 kids.

most night shifts are roughly 10pm till 6am, so why is your sleep disturbed? You would continue to be a couple, so a couple.couple claim is still approlriate

Bemmy2525

Sharing a bed is completely irrelevant, if you live together, portray yourself and share finances as a couple then it is a joint claim. Only if you separate or he moved out would it be single claim

abcref

No the 21 year old moving out would be worse overall. The 21 year olds workplace is closer to my house and he walks due to no buses running the times he works he has passed his driving test but hasn't bothered getting a car as he refuses to spend a fortune on a car insurance when car would only used to get to work and back. My partners work is pretty much middle of mine and parents house and he does drive and have a car.

We do not share any finances and never have apart from rent. He pays for his stuff I pay for mine and everything for kids is half each. His money is his and my money is mine. This may not be how other people do it but this has been how we have always done it and prefer to do it. If he moves in with parents then rent will be my responsibility as he will need to pay my parents money.

Partners new job would be from 1am. My dad is always always up most the night anyway and is more than happy to wake him if he doesn't wake up. So that is not an issue.

HillStreetBlues

If you're BF moves in with your dad, is your dad up to date with all the legal rules that having a lodger entails? also with council tax if he currently lives alone.

If done correctly, then you would be separate households.