AIBU not to go along with this

[welshmum3]

My son (now aged 19) has lived with my ex-DH for 2 years. (His choice) All was well whilst DS was still at school - exDH was able to claim tax credits, child benefit, housing and council tax benefits ( he's retired). When DS left school and started working ( part time, around 15-20 hours a week) they (ex-DH and DS) asked if he could move back in with me as exDH would no longer be able to claim benefits for housing costs and DS couldn't claim as he was a) too young b) living with his Father. Naturally I agreed, DS 'moved back in', changed his driving licence and passport details to my address. After 2 nights he went to stay with his gf and for the last year has flitted between gf's house and his Father's but not stayed here. DS's gf went to Uni in September so DS has since been living full time with his Dad. He has not stayed here once. Now the AIBU - a few months ago I had a form to fill in for the electoral roll. I didn't include my son on it. Some weeks later his Father texted me to say he had been in touch with the local council to tell them DS lived with me and a letter addressed to DS would arrive for him to register to vote. This letter has now arrived. 1) Can my DS register to vote using my address when he lives somewhere else? 2) Is my ex-DH being a CF using me to claim benefits fraudulently? I don't want to play any part in enabling him to do this ( for background, there is a history of domestic abuse) but don't want my DS to be affected by having to leave his Father's as he's happy enough living there.

It's fraud to say he lives with you when he clearly doesn't. Discuss directly with DS as XH knows this and is pushing his luck monumentally!

If your ds is transient and has no fixed address he can register to vote using a 'declaration of local connection' form which establishes a connection to the area based on the last fixed address he had, or the place where he spends a substantial amount of time. On this basis there's no reason why he can't use your address or, for that matter, his df's address as his last fixed address.

With regard to benefits, if your ds is registered at your ex's address this may lead to him being unable to claim single person's discount on his council tax which is, presumably, why he wants ds to register to vote at your address.

Others may advise whether there are any other benefits your ex may be claiming that could be affected/reduced if it became known that your ds was living with him.

It appears to be a little known fact that if you split your time between two places you can register to vote at both addresses providing they're not in the same election area. At local elections you can vote in both places but at national/european elections it is a criminal offence to vote in more than one place.

It's likely that he is trying to get a discount on council tax and doesn't want him registered at his own address for that reason. I would ring the local council and advise them that he doesn't live with you and you have received a letter for him to register but it has gone to the wrong address.

It is fraud if he does this. I have seen people prosecuted for fiddling with council tax. You don't want to be involved with that.