Inspired by benefit fraud thread last night. I live with my mother, but claim tax credits as a single parent. I don't work at all (he's 8 months old, I don't feel it's fair on him to go in a nursery yet. I plan on returning in a couple of months though). Whilst pregnant I was on 1k/month minimum wage. I'm friendly with the father and see him often (pretty much every day), I often have dinner round his house, but I wouldn't call myself his partner. We don't have sex or are romantic with each other - we broke up whilst i was pregnant and have gradually become friends again. He sees his son every evening but has actively been with other women (though is single at the moment). He puts £200 into an account every month intended for the baby but I have legal rights to it if I want/need it. Otherwise he doesn't give me any money. He has offered to move me in with him because he's so in love with the baby but doesnt like the extra daily car trip, and knows I don't love living with my mum, although he'd want to decrease the payments as he'd have a large rent increase to pay for another bedroom. We even consider getting a mortgage together sometimes (when I'm working again) so when the baby is older he will get to live with both parents.
You might think "that sounds weird". I get that, it sounds really weird typing it out. But we're friends and it works and we'd both be comfortable telling each other if we thought otherwise. We're hippies, when we has a relationship it was polygamous and our dream is to live off grid with solar panels and stuff.
Anyway, would you consider it unfair of me to claim tax credits as a single person? I pay for my own utilities and council tax and buy my own food living with my mum, although it is cheaper than it would be on my own. Also I'm not sure if I count as being partners with him, it's like were best friends but he happens to be my baby's dad.
Two questions: am I being unethical? I didn't really think about it when claiming, and do you think the council would have grounds to fine me if they found out?
I've been so worried since the thread yesterday. I don't claim income support, but have a lot in tax credits because I'm on low income. ???