Claiming benefits as a single person...

[TechGinny]

...but having someone live with you during lockdown... does anyone know whether people can still get in trouble for this in the current situation?

This is the situation I would have been in if my boyfriend and I had made the decision that he would stay with me for the duration of the lockdown, and I'm guessing it's true for a great many people right now?

As it stands, he's still at home and we haven't seen each other since the Saturday before lockdown started (which is really shit, but so much is for so many people at the moment), but if he was here he'd still be paying all his usual outgoings on his place, I also would be for mine, but really I'd have to declare to council tax and tax credits that I was no longer living alone. That, or risk being fined/made to pay money back.

I did post this on the Coronavirus board, but adding it here for traffic.

AIBU for wondering whether there's a relaxing of the rules during these extenuating circumstances of the lockdown?

He would just be a guest, not living with you.

Didn't you post this yesterday?

@kilisibird yes, I posted it on the Coronavirus board, as I said in my OP, but I was hoping more people would see it and be able to give advice on here.

@Sugarplumfairy65 oh really? Is that definite, do you know? Not that he can come here now we're in lockdown, but I'm so worried about breaking rules - I hate benefit fraud.

If he has retained his own home and is paying the bills there, not contributing to yours and is isolating with you in these freak circumstances then I don't think that would be considered cohabiting. It would be different if he stayed on afterwards, then someone might report you if they felt so inclined and you'd potentially be investigated. I'm isolating with my DM because I'm disabled and it's easier if we're in the same place at the moment but I don't live here and this isn't my address, I'm not paying bills here, I'm just paying for my empty house - legally I'd be a guest right now, not a resident

@dkanin, that makes sense and is good to know, thank you. I hope you and your DM are doing well though all this.

I don't think it would be an issue, he is a guest. It might be looked at different if you claim as a single parent and he was your DC father. I'm not even sure if you have DC.

I don't think anyone can give you a yes or no answer.

He will be using your heating, water, cooking, washing his clothes. benefitting from your CT reduction all things that you are getting benefits for based on one person. As you say you would need to declare this and that would spark off a query later down the line.

He is moving in with you to live as a couple and how it is viewed is anyones guess sorry.

It is also how others like your neighbours view your relationship regardless of where his bills are based. I would do some research on how your Council views cohabitation.