Partners staying over...??

tigzem

Hi,

I claim HB and single parents WTC/CTC and I work PT. My dd is 3 end of Aug.

I was wondering if there are any rules about partners staying over whilst claiming these benefits? Does it cause any problems or is ok? Is there a limit on how many times a week they can stay?

Thanks x

SPANIEL36

i thought more tan 3 times its classed as living there but i could be mistaken

bestpud

There is no set number of nights - it's all decided on a case by case basis.

There are loads of previous posts on this if you do a search, but the main issue (from memory), is whether you and your partner are a couple in the sense of being linked financially.

It is likely to be a problem, for example, if you share any bills, or have joint accounts, shop together, he has mail coming to your home, or has said to his employer, or the like, that he is living at your home.

If not, and he just stays the odd night, you would probably be ok, but nobody can say that for certain as the rules are ambiguous.

mrs_pepperpot_3

yup, the mr pepperpot used to "visit" for 3 nights whilst i was a newly single student (divorced) mum,
the council visited and explained the rules... 3 nights a week, then mr pepperpot decided to make an honest woman of me, so keep to your three nights and see what happens...

dmg24

bestpud is right, there is nothing set in stone on this.

I imagine that three nights is used as a guideline because anything more than that is more than half the week.

real1314

Nah, not even used as a guideline - forces couples are often apart for more than 4 days in a week, off shore workers (oil rigs) are the same. Even some long distance lorry drivers.

What it comes down to is whether you live together in the same way that a married couple might. But that varies enormously, not just in terms of time spent together, but in terms of finances, shared tasks, meals etc.

Some couples spend 24/7 together, others barely seem to have anything to do with each other

kelloggs36

It is an urban myth about 3 nights per week - there has never been anything in law which lays this down. It is looked at on a case by case basis and specific questioned determined by interview and a decision maker.

tigzem

Thanks for your replies.

We do not have any shared financial agreements, he has his own flat and only stays 2 or 3 times a wk so think we'll be ok. Just wish there was a set rule so I wouldn't worry.

mitchaa

tigzem wrote: »

Thanks for your replies.

We do not have any shared financial agreements, he has his own flat and only stays 2 or 3 times a wk so think we'll be ok. Just wish there was a set rule so I wouldn't worry.

Doesn't stop a nosey neighbour reporting you for benefit fraud and you then being investigated so be careful. Single, to many people means exactly that, single, so if they see you as a couple, you are open to being reported.

It's then upto you to then prove that you are not financially linked.

The 3 days a week rule does not exist. If he spends 1 night over with you and you are financially linked then thats enough for it to be fraudulent.

charleysmummy25

i am part of a forces relationship-currently on a 6 month seperation- not linked financially-his post and electoroll is at the barraks.. are we clssed as living as married? he is here usually fri and sat night.

Thanks in advance

tigzem

mitchaa wrote: »

Doesn't stop a nosey neighbour reporting you for benefit fraud and you then being investigated so be careful. Single, to many people means exactly that, single, so if they see you as a couple, you are open to being reported.

It's then upto you to then prove that you are not financially linked.

The 3 days a week rule does not exist. If he spends 1 night over with you and you are financially linked then thats enough for it to be fraudulent.

I assume being financially linked means having joint bank accounts etc? We don't have any of that.

It's a minefield isn't it?