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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Universal credits

28 replies

SweetStrawberrie · 22/05/2023 11:05

Hello,

Am i able to claim as a single person in these circumstances?

Me and my children's father have separated, however at present he still mostly lives at the same address as me as neither of us can currently afford to move out.

He also stays at his mums occasionally but stays here to help and see our young children.

We have sperate finances, the bills are in my name etc.

I am struggling a bit though and any help I am entitled to would be hugely helpful.

Finding it a bit confusing when looking online and there is conflicting information.

The split is amicable thankfully.

Thank you

OP posts:
Fuckmyliferightnow · 22/05/2023 11:09

Yes you can claim.
Ring Citizen's advice and they will do the claim for you.

Original poster
SweetStrawberrie · 22/05/2023 11:14

Will he need to be removed from the tenancy agreement too?

Thanks

OP posts:
gallina · 22/05/2023 11:31

Yes he'll need to be removed from the tenancy agreement, but can be added as an adult living with you. Which you can then change when he leaves

Freshstarts22 · 22/05/2023 12:02

Personally I just wouldn’t mention that he lives with you. You can just say he stays over once or twice a week. Lots will disagree though…

Original poster
SweetStrawberrie · 22/05/2023 12:17

@Freshstarts22 I really worry about this though, would be so paranoid even though we are genuinely not together

OP posts:
SunnySaturdayMorning · 22/05/2023 12:19

Freshstarts22 · 22/05/2023 12:02

Personally I just wouldn’t mention that he lives with you. You can just say he stays over once or twice a week. Lots will disagree though…

Why would you advise someone to commit fraud?

If I found out anyone I knew was doing this I would absolutely be reporting them.

Danikm151 · 22/05/2023 12:21

No need to get citizens advice to apply for you.

it’s pretty easy to apply online for UC. Nobody can say yes or no and UC depends on your income too.

Original poster
SweetStrawberrie · 22/05/2023 12:31

Danikm151 · 22/05/2023 12:21

No need to get citizens advice to apply for you.

it’s pretty easy to apply online for UC. Nobody can say yes or no and UC depends on your income too.

I didn't mean would I qualify for it, I just meant was it okay to apply as a single person despite my ex still staying within the home but we have separate finances etc.

OP posts:
tillytoodles1 · 22/05/2023 12:37

If he's still living there he should be paying half of the household bills.

OneForTheRoadThen · 22/05/2023 12:42

It's not just enough to have separate finances. You have to live completely separately e.g no shared meals, no shared washing loads etc. it can be done, it's known as an an untidy tenancy but obviously these do come under scrutiny and DWP can check whose name Netflix etc is under.

jojogoesbust · 22/05/2023 12:45

No. The DWP will check every bill, as someone else has said, even if post in his name is going to your address.
I speak from experience as i tried this when exDH and I seperated. He has to either contribute or move out. Anything else is fraud, and they will find out

Original poster
SweetStrawberrie · 22/05/2023 12:46

we do live totally separately, I work from home, he is out of the house until 7pm I have long since eaten dinner by then, we sleep in separate rooms. Our stuff isn't washed together as his work clothes are covered in muck etc.

There is nothing where we have our names together at all, netflix account is actually his brothers.

OP posts:
Original poster
SweetStrawberrie · 22/05/2023 12:46

his post doesn't come here and hasn't for some time, it goes to his mum as he also stays there

OP posts:
Original poster
SweetStrawberrie · 22/05/2023 12:47

I will ring citizens advice i think as what i have read online is so conflicting

OP posts:
Freshstarts22 · 22/05/2023 12:48

SunnySaturdayMorning · 22/05/2023 12:19

Why would you advise someone to commit fraud?

If I found out anyone I knew was doing this I would absolutely be reporting them.

Show quote history

Good for you. Says more about you than me.

it’s not fraud is it. They’re finances are separate, they’re not together and he isn’t there 7 days.

if you tell them he lived there they will take his income into account.

OneForTheRoadThen · 22/05/2023 13:03

SweetStrawberrie · 22/05/2023 12:46

we do live totally separately, I work from home, he is out of the house until 7pm I have long since eaten dinner by then, we sleep in separate rooms. Our stuff isn't washed together as his work clothes are covered in muck etc.

There is nothing where we have our names together at all, netflix account is actually his brothers.

You should be fine then!

youdothebestvoices · 22/05/2023 13:06

Try having a look on entitledto.co.uk OP, you fill it out and it will give you a rough idea of any support you can get, but you can ring citizens advice to and explain your situation in more depth

Naddd · 22/05/2023 13:10

Why don't you ring uc and ask them? They are best placed to ask.

If you claim n it turns out you shouldn't have what will you say a bunch of strangers on mumsnet said it was ok?

Original poster
SweetStrawberrie · 22/05/2023 13:12

Naddd · 22/05/2023 13:10

Why don't you ring uc and ask them? They are best placed to ask.

If you claim n it turns out you shouldn't have what will you say a bunch of strangers on mumsnet said it was ok?

lol obviously not...this a talk site where people ask for advice/if any others have been in a similar situation

I have already said I am going to give citizens advice a call

OP posts:
Trinity65 · 22/05/2023 13:27

SweetStrawberrie · 22/05/2023 11:05

Hello,

Am i able to claim as a single person in these circumstances?

Me and my children's father have separated, however at present he still mostly lives at the same address as me as neither of us can currently afford to move out.

He also stays at his mums occasionally but stays here to help and see our young children.

We have sperate finances, the bills are in my name etc.

I am struggling a bit though and any help I am entitled to would be hugely helpful.

Finding it a bit confusing when looking online and there is conflicting information.

The split is amicable thankfully.

Thank you

I believe you can.

When I was getting divorced, me and now DXH (He is still a good friend and a nice Man) shared the marital home until I found somewhere to rent .
Back then it was Income Support still but Yes, to my surprise, though living there still I got IS.

Otto223 · 17/11/2024 21:29

Hi. How did you get on with this?

Anotherworrier · 17/11/2024 21:38

gallina · 22/05/2023 11:31

Yes he'll need to be removed from the tenancy agreement, but can be added as an adult living with you. Which you can then change when he leaves

I know this thread is old but that’s not true. From my own experience after a breakup.

Otto223 · 18/11/2024 07:54

@Anotherworrier Im going through similar situation now. My partner is on the tenancy but has moved out. Will I be able to claim UC. any advice?

Latelifelesbian · 18/11/2024 08:09

It is definitely possible and not uncommon these days. As others have said you do need to be living separately within the house (separate bedrooms, food, bills etc). If you are married are you starting divorce proceedings?

Otto223 · 18/11/2024 08:15

@Latelifelesbian No not married. Just delegating with young children. He is on the tenancy which we started 5 months ago. Worried to tell the landlord the situation