Page 9 | To ask whether anyone here has ever been investigated by DWP for “living with a partner”?

Labradorlover987 · 2025-09-22T12:11:45+00:00

My friend has just been asked to attend a compliance interview at the job centre - she claims universal credit as a single mother to 2 kids, and single person council tax discount she has a boyfriend but they don’t live together full time - he lives with his father - he obviously stays over 3/4 nights a week. Just wondered what the process was etc

TheChoiceWithinDestiny · 22/09/2025 17:03

I find the attitude towards this scenario ridiculous. Single parents should be able to have a relationship where they can take time to make sure the person is right for them especially as children are involved ?? As long as the partner can prove they legally live elsewhere have bills there etc why is it a problem? You can’t move every partner in straight away just because of UC !

Coconutter24 · 22/09/2025 17:03

Labradorlover987 · 22/09/2025 17:00

I was just thinking if it was an abusive ex for example, out to cause trouble

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As long as the claimant are doing it fraudulently then they can prove there is no wrong doing so it won’t cause any issues. Yeh it’ll be a pain getting documents to prove it but they can’t really cause serious trouble if there’s no wrong doing

Coconutter24 · 22/09/2025 17:02

JenniferBooth · 22/09/2025 16:57

The abusive alkie who lives underneath me gets his food shopping and rent paid for by his mum. So he can spend his UC on booze. Why is this allowed then?

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Did you report it?

Original poster

Labradorlover987 · 22/09/2025 17:00

Coconutter24 · 22/09/2025 16:55

How is it unfair? If they didn’t investigate every report imagine the thousands of pounds that could potentially be fraudulently claimed.

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I was just thinking if it was an abusive ex for example, out to cause trouble

OP posts:

JenniferBooth · 22/09/2025 16:57

Coconutter24 · 22/09/2025 16:54

As long as you weren’t paying for any food shopping or anything like that for your partners house then you weren’t doing anything wrong. I understand what you’re saying about people moving in prematurely but equally it shouldn’t be on the tax payer to foot the bill whilst someone decides if they’re ready for a partner to move in

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The abusive alkie who lives underneath me gets his food shopping and rent paid for by his mum. So he can spend his UC on booze. Why is this allowed then?

Coconutter24 · 22/09/2025 16:55

Labradorlover987 · 22/09/2025 16:53

Do they investigate every report they get? Seems a bit unfair when people may be reporting maliciously

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How is it unfair? If they didn’t investigate every report imagine the thousands of pounds that could potentially be fraudulently claimed.

Coconutter24 · 22/09/2025 16:54

Alittlefrustrated · 22/09/2025 16:43

Unlike most people in this thread, I have sympathy with your friend.
I stayed at my partner's house a lot (sometimes 2 whole weeks at a time when he was on leave) in my 20's, but I didn't live there. I didn't contribute financially in any way at all. I had my own home.
Are we saying someone on benefits can't have a partner who just stays over part of the week? Daytime sex only please? Unable to "test" or progress relationships without full commitment?
The alternative being people moving in together prematurely. That would mean many more vunerable women and children surely? Putting men on tenancy agreements before the woman or mother would want to? Children having no break from mum's relatively new partner,unless at Dad's?

As long as you weren’t paying for any food shopping or anything like that for your partners house then you weren’t doing anything wrong. I understand what you’re saying about people moving in prematurely but equally it shouldn’t be on the tax payer to foot the bill whilst someone decides if they’re ready for a partner to move in

Glitchymn1 · 22/09/2025 16:53

Labradorlover987 · 22/09/2025 16:53

Do they investigate every report they get? Seems a bit unfair when people may be reporting maliciously

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Ideally, yes.

Glitchymn1 · 22/09/2025 16:53

Fraud manager here- there are no set amount of days.

Original poster

Labradorlover987 · 22/09/2025 16:53

Rainbows41 · 22/09/2025 16:42

I was a housing benefit officer for around twelve years. 3 nights a week is the threshold at which a partner can stay without being counted. 4 or more is deemed as being resident. However, a partner can only stay one or two nights a week and be classed as resident if they are using your home as their main residence.

Do they investigate every report they get? Seems a bit unfair when people may be reporting maliciously

OP posts:

Praying4Peace · 22/09/2025 16:49

samplesalequeen · 22/09/2025 13:33

So her boyfriend likely stays with her more than half the time and she’s rinsing the state for the benefits of a single person?

id take the lot off her tbh. Top notch cheeky fucker.

I am aware of several people doing this. Claiming as a single parent and bf living there although not registered.
In these situations, those people are significantly better off than those who are working to pay their bills and rent.
All the while, the living and housing costs are being paid for by the tax payer
Very unfair

Original poster

Labradorlover987 · 22/09/2025 16:48

SirHumphreyRocks · 22/09/2025 16:44

Yeah, didn't get the answer a wanted last week so thought I'd give it a different spin and see if anyone can advise me on how to commit fraud without getting caught.

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I have never posted about benefits 😆 not sure why people on here are so paranoid’ check my history if you need proof x

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Rainbows41 · 22/09/2025 16:47

PumpkinSeasonOctober · 22/09/2025 16:45

It doesn’t matter how many nights they stay now, if anyone considers you to be in a relationship than that counts these days.

I don't know if that's truly the case as I don't work for HB anymore, but I disagree with this notion. I don't think it's right to deem a couple as one whole residence when they are living in two separate households.

Coconutter24 · 22/09/2025 16:47

He will probably need a utility bill or something to prove where he lives, they may check her bank statements to check he’s not transferring her money for rent or bills.

TheSpiritofDarkandLonelyWater · 22/09/2025 16:46

Rainbows41 · 22/09/2025 16:42

I was a housing benefit officer for around twelve years. 3 nights a week is the threshold at which a partner can stay without being counted. 4 or more is deemed as being resident. However, a partner can only stay one or two nights a week and be classed as resident if they are using your home as their main residence.

Can you post a a link to this information online please.
My boyfriend has his own flat etc. He pays no bills at mine at all. Do I need to tell the job centre about him?

PumpkinSeasonOctober · 22/09/2025 16:45

It doesn’t matter how many nights they stay now, if anyone considers you to be in a relationship than that counts these days.

SirHumphreyRocks · 22/09/2025 16:44

ToKittyornottoKitty · 22/09/2025 13:13

Didn’t she/you already have a thread about this last week?

Yeah, didn't get the answer a wanted last week so thought I'd give it a different spin and see if anyone can advise me on how to commit fraud without getting caught.

Alittlefrustrated · 22/09/2025 16:43

Unlike most people in this thread, I have sympathy with your friend.
I stayed at my partner's house a lot (sometimes 2 whole weeks at a time when he was on leave) in my 20's, but I didn't live there. I didn't contribute financially in any way at all. I had my own home.
Are we saying someone on benefits can't have a partner who just stays over part of the week? Daytime sex only please? Unable to "test" or progress relationships without full commitment?
The alternative being people moving in together prematurely. That would mean many more vunerable women and children surely? Putting men on tenancy agreements before the woman or mother would want to? Children having no break from mum's relatively new partner,unless at Dad's?

Rainbows41 · 22/09/2025 16:42

I was a housing benefit officer for around twelve years. 3 nights a week is the threshold at which a partner can stay without being counted. 4 or more is deemed as being resident. However, a partner can only stay one or two nights a week and be classed as resident if they are using your home as their main residence.

TheSpiritofDarkandLonelyWater · 22/09/2025 16:35

Rainbows41 · 22/09/2025 16:34

Four nights a week is deemed as living together...

Where does it say this please?

Rainbows41 · 22/09/2025 16:34

Four nights a week is deemed as living together...

Original poster

Labradorlover987 · 22/09/2025 16:29

So is it likely someone reported her? We think it might be his ex gf obviously no idea if it is or not x

OP posts:

LivingDeadGirlUK · 22/09/2025 16:22

This is yet another reason why universal basic income would be such a benefit for women.

OnlyMabelInTheBuilding · 22/09/2025 16:20

LivingDeadGirlUK · 22/09/2025 16:17

God single parents can't win can they? Move a boyfriend in straight away and they are being selfish and not thinking of the children, live separately and they are 'rinsing the system'.

These are separate issues.

Taxpayers don’t care about the personal happiness of single parents; it’s a financial implication only.

mrseffington · 22/09/2025 16:18

I was sanctioned for apparently claiming benefits over 14 years ago when my husband and I split up - they basically didn't believe me and I fought tooth and nail - provided proof but was told it wasn't enough. It went quiet for 6 years and I thought that was the end of it. They came at me again for £5900 - I did not have anything more to fight them with and basically said we don't believe you, pay up, which I've been doing every since at £100 a month. I sometimes think I should fight again but I don't know how else to prove that he had indeed moved out - he's even said he's willing to stand up in front of them and state he had moved out.

Long and short of it is if the system is being swindled you may well get away with it and then when they get a pushover like me who had no fight left (and was dealing with other shit at the time) they get their money back that way...!