Claim as single?

sarahlouise210

Loopy_Girl wrote: »

Are you kidding? :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

They are not living together, he doesn't contribute to the family household running of the house and the kids aren't his - of course she should claim as a single parent.

God forbid lone parent's have a life...can you imagine the first date? 'yeah my fave colour is pink oh and by the way, I will need to come off IS since we are seeing each other and you will need to support me and my kids. Another drink?'!!!!

They have been together at least a year as she lent hime the money to buy a care then.... she has stated that he used to stay at her house most of the time. :huh:

mitchaa

Mollymop5 wrote: »

I think we need to remember we're talking tax credits here and not benefits.

As far as im aware TC are benefits

If person A earns £10k, and person B earns £15k, then total income is £25k so no WTC are awarded.

Person A 'splits' from person B, ie works away during the week, the £15k income is taken away and WTC is now awarded purely based on the singular incomes

So they still have the £25k income but now have 2x WTC aswell on top.

There must be many thousands of people out there doing exactly this.

Its a ludicrous system, people are better off being single hence the purpose of this thread. They should make it more rewarding for people as a couple, the governments stance on the whole subject is all wrong.

terryw

something_girl wrote: »

Just a quick question, if anyone in the know could advise:

My boyfriend used to stay at my house most of the time, except when he stayed at his mothers when he saw his kids. Now that he has a job far away from where I live, he now stays at mine 3 nights a week, with the rest either in a hotel or at his mothers. We have nothing joint together, he is paying me back a loan I gave him to buy a car a year ago. I have 2 young children (not his) and all bills are in my sole name as is my house.

Should I now claim tax credits as a single person?

Thanks for help. I will ask tax credits people, but it's really hard to get through to them, so I thought I would gain the experience of regulars here.

As other posters have implied, this whole area of LTAHAW is difficult to understand. On the facts that you have given, I feel that you are NOT LTAHAW.
Your boyfriend does not live with you, he has his own address (where presumably he is registered for council tax and to where other communications are sent), he does not contribute financially for staying with you, etc. I am not an expert though, and to be on the safe side I would be inclined to inform the tax credit people (and other benefit agencies if any involved) of the situation to preempt any investigation as a result of nosy neighbours etc.

This questions comes up regularly on MSE Forum and there is not an easy answer, but it would be helpful, if you let us know what the tax credit people say about the situation.

bw

terryw

moggylover

sarahlouise210 wrote: »

They have been together at least a year as she lent hime the money to buy a care then.... she has stated that he used to stay at her house most of the time. :huh:

Yes, I agree - but "living together" is actually more of a committment than this. Many, many single people have relationships that would not survive for five minutes in a "living together" situation - why should one be forced to either claim as "living together" or end the relationship, just because one is single and on benefits?

So long as she does not actually take money from him for bills and food then I do not see this as the committment of "living together" - and the odd meal that he buys for her or her and her children as a treat does not constitute anything that should be of concern to anyone. My mother used to take the kids and I out shopping and buy us a meal once a week, every week - and when I had serious post-natal depression she had to stay with me most nights (and days) cos I could not cope. This did not constitute living together and neither does what this lady describes. I think it would be wrong to read between the lines.

I suggest that the OP should actually discuss this with the Benefits Office, or the CAB - to make sure what the correct way to go is.

However, those working and not receiving WTC, and having a friend to stay night after night without the committment of making their finances joint - would be highly annoyed at having to pay, say, extra council tax for their boyfriend/girlfriend to stay over would they not? Why should she be disbelieved just because she is on WTC? Just because a lot of people assume that anyone claiming any benefit is a fraud or a scrounger without ever believing innocent until proven guilty?

In truth, the children are not this OP's friends responsibility unless he chooses to make them so, nor is the OP.

Loopy_Girl

sarahlouise210 wrote: »

They have been together at least a year as she lent hime the money to buy a care then.... she has stated that he used to stay at her house most of the time. :huh:

So she is not allowed to help him out or have a sex life? Why should single mother's be made to feel like benefit frauds when they have a boyfriend?

And she asked about now...he is only staying 3 nights a week and not paying money into the household pot so is a b/f rather than a partner.

Am sure these Forces blokes don't hang onto the bank cards do they? No, they will allow the partner at home to access his bank account for running of the home, kids etc. That is a marriage in my eyes whether they are legally married or not.

something_girl

mitchaa wrote: »

As far as i was aware, he was handing over money for a 'loan' that she helped him with. How does she prove that this loan ever existed and that he doesn't just give her say £200pm a month towards her bills, food?

The 'loan' excuse i would imagine has been used a billion times before. Unless there is a written contract or proof of the loan, then they would see straight through it.

it may be this that catches her out, not the £10 chineese meals

Hello? I am here you know and actually reading this!

Of course the loan can be proved, the cheque was written to the car dealership and the cheque was taken out of a building society account.

I find your post rather offensive actually!

something_girl

sarahlouise210 wrote: »

They have been together at least a year as she lent hime the money to buy a care then.... she has stated that he used to stay at her house most of the time. :huh:

yes, as I have been claiming jointly since he moved in, now he is no longer living at my address for more than 3 nights a week and we have no intention of making things permanent, should I now not be claiming jointly?

mitchaa

something_girl wrote: »

Hello? I am here you know and actually reading this!

Of course the loan can be proved, the cheque was written to the car dealership and the cheque was taken out of a building society account.

I find your post rather offensive actually!

Well you are easily offended as there is no offensive material in my post.

Your example above is not proof of a loan:rotfl: A cheque for the car out of your bank account does not constitute you lending him money.

something_girl

Just to clarify:

Up to now, I have made a joint claim as my boyfriend was staying with me most nights. Now he is not, so do I make a single claim?

Nothing fradulent about that!

No need to tar me with some benefit cheat brush, I AM claiming as a couple, because I am an honest law abiding citizen! Now he is hardly here and doesn't contribute (he can't, as he pays most of his wages out on hotels and child maintenance).

Thank you for the posts that contained genuine advice.

mitchaa

something_girl wrote: »

yes, as I have been claiming jointly since he moved in, now he is no longer living at my address for more than 3 nights a week and we have no intention of making things permanent, should I now not be claiming jointly?

So both of you now get WTC but yet are still together as a couple. Not as much as you would like because he has gone away with work Mon-Thurs

Most of the armed forces are in a similar position, they stay in camp during the week and go home at the weekend.

Great:rolleyes: