Maintenance payments from exes don't count towards UC?

[riverofgods]

A family member has a very wealthy ex-DH who through an informal arrangement pays a few thousand a month and gave her a property in their split. She has deliberately made sure that she has no cash assets and spends what he gives her each month so she can then also qualify for UC which she receives in full due to not working. Apparently this is completely above board but i think its awful that it is.

It’s a Friday evening.

Maintenance doesn't get considered for any benefits, you could be getting thousands but as long as it isn't mounting up in your bank it doesn't count.

Matinence is too vulnerable to abuse to allow it to be counted

it feels like it is being abused by her but in the other direction. maybe cases like hers are so rare the system is designd to allow for it

I’m quite happy that a very small
minority of people benefit from playing the system so that the vast vast vast majority can afford to eat and clothe their children.

Yes all true. I have some clients who on face value you would think would struggle financially as they are single, have multiple kids, don't work and get benefits but when you look at their income with child maintenance added some people receive a decent income. High enough that they don't pass our 'in need' test as they have a large surplus income.

yes i guess in terms of the bigger picture it makes sense. just frustrating on an individual level when you know someone like this and you cant help but compare lives when me and DP both work FT and dont have nearly as much

Can you not instead just be pleased she married (and then divorced) money and so is doing ok for herself?

Child maintenance is not deductable from any income related benefit. UC ESA etc.

However, spousel maintenance is deductable.

Something like 40% of NRPs pay nothing and less than half make over 90% of the payments which they're supposed to make.

If your friend is a) entitled to a decent amount of child maintenance, and b) actually receiving it, she's in a fairly small minority.

Works the other way around as well to fuck the non resident home. I lost my job during covid due to a project ending and no more income. The fact that we have DSS 40 % of the time ( so needed a room and general coats associated with a child) was not considered in our universal credit application. Also the money he pays to in maintence ( that he has always payed on them with no argument) was not considered.

yes i struggle to be happy for her having that level of money and claiming UC. obv want her to be supported but this is beyond just that and i find it immoral shes claiming benefits. shes been skiing twice this year already and has two america trips booked for october and xmas. the kids go to private school. so no actually in these circumstances i cannot be happy for her to then want even more money from the state

Maintenance is for the kids and it sounds like she's spending it on the kids.

Maintenance is for the kids but no need to then claim UC

If you are able to work, then you have to jump through a lot of hoops in order to get that money. If you haven't spent hours doing job searches and other job related activity you get sanctioned. So not really sure what is in it for her? Maybe she isn't actually able to work due to illness or caring responsibilities?

She's doing the best she can for her child in the situation of an absent father. My daughter (not I!) gets very decent maintenance from her father. My daughter has a lovely life, yet I haven't bought new clothes for over a year! Focus on the energy bosses etc., not on mothers making sure their children get what they are due.

AIBU would be very boring if we all did that 😏

Well there is because the maintenance isn't for your friend. She's got to live off something.

Isnt that for JSA not UC? I thought you didnt need to be applying for jobs for UC?

This!

A few thousand a month isnt enough to live off?

Depends on the age of the DC and health conditions but most people have to be looking for work.

Using that logic, the maintenance is for the kids and the UC is for her....

Maintenance is not always a steady income, a NRP might stop their maintenence payments or underpay at any time. You could also have RPs refusing maintenance so as not to affect their benefits if the benefits alone are not enough to support the family. Either way the children could potentially suffer financially and so it is in their best interests that maintenance isn't counted.

Why would you begrudge a policy that is in the best interests of children?

So actually you don’t know how benefits work, you’re just jealous af and hoped everyone would jump on board with condemning your family member? With family like you eh?