Benefit claim

[YumYummy]

I am not working at the moment and am putting in a claim for universal credit as I need money to live on plus housig benefit.
I still own a house with my ex H, would it be U to not mention this on my application?

Of course it would be unreasonable, it would be benefits fraud.
You own half an asset, you must declare it. Honestly, I can't believe you're even asking.

Yes it's unreasonable, it's fraud.

If you need the income I think you may need to talk to your ex and either he buys you out, or you sell the house.

You surely have to declare it.

That’s exactly what I thought, it’s very odd that another thread with exactly the same scenario the majority on mumsnetters seemed to have no problem with this benefit fraud.

This is 100% linked to the other thread…

Of course you need to declare it, it asks you on the application and if you lie and later get caught out you are going to be in a lot of trouble ! If the house is being sold then that equity may be able to be disregarded for a period of time but I think you would need to show that steps are being taken to sell the house or for your ex to be buying you out. You don't get to keep it as an investment and then claim money to live elsewhere.

Was that thread not about whether to report someone? I think the the general consensus on there was that the person was committing benefit fraud but not everyone thought that OP should report them.

Well I wouldn't report anyone but I wouldn't commit benefit fraud myself!

Oh ffs!

It doesn't matter what MN posters said on another thread. They're not the Supreme Court of Justice. This is a website, with quite a few people on it who are deliberate social disruptors.

If there are posters anywhere suggesting or promoting benefit fraud then that should be taken with a massive pinch of salt. Being investigated for benefit fraud down the line is intrusive, stressful and costly.

I believe you are allowed to disregard a house in such a circumstance - within a specific time frame.

You need to declare it but don't assume that means you won't get UC.

If it’s on the market or planned to be but in dispute it’ll be disregarded for 26 weeks. You can apply for longer.
I presume you don’t own it outright and your ex may buy you out, or you relinquish your rights to any ownership.

I also think you must declare it but at the moment you can't access the equity. I think they give you a timeframe to sell it or get ex to buy you out. I think you will still get UC. Not sure about HB if you have a house that is empty. You should obviously live there.

Time frame is 6 months or longer if considered reasonable by the decision maker. You are required to be taking steps to get your equity out of it, ie instigating the divorce, getting the financial order etc.
You can use the equity from the sale of a property that was a former marital/shared home to buy a new property and it won't be considered deprivation of assets. You won't get any help with a mortgage though beyond support for mortgage interest.
Shared ownership can be the way to go with the equity from the former home, no mortgage, and rent for the balance of the home paid by the housing element of UC.