to expect the DSS to get things right?

[ManxMum]

Can anyone clarify what the DSS criteria is regarding couples?

Me and my DH live in separate countries, as he is studying. DSS, after 7 months have said that, technically, we ARE still a couple!

We live in different countries FGS!

Any ideas anyone?

But you're married?

Yes.

When my DH left in September, I rightly informed the DSS that I was now the head of the household and they changed my IS as they said I was a Lone Parent and now they have decided I am not.

the DSS are a law unto themselves!

So, have you split up or are you still together - just at a distance?

iirc then yes you are still counted as a couple, unless you have split up (you can be legally married but a lone parent though, IF you have separated)

Why is this causing a problem? Are they expecting you to look for work? I am not sure what the rules are re one parent studying overseas, but they will exist, your local CAB should know.

Is he at uni on the main land and you are still on IOM? (going from your name) Is that where the problems lay... the IOM is a confusing concept to the mainland offices IME

DH is in UK, I am on IOM.

He comes home on the holidays, Xmas, easter etc, and gives me a break from DS4.

Apparentl, I am lucky the are not raising an overpayment for the mone the have been apparently, incorrectl paying me for the last 7 months!

It seems that I am required to pay £220 per month for his keep.

Government gives him £120

Hatrick, he thinks he is coming back, I am seriously considering otherwise.

perhaps they have a cut off of 6 months, assuming you had split up. which you haven't? obviously.
do you get less money now

Yes, £220 per month. It;s the fact that they have backtracked on the decision that they made 7 months ago that annoys me.

MM you need to get this sorted urgently.

If they are saying you have been overpaid it is because they believe you have given them wrong information. They COULD consider this to be fraud and start stuff like interviews under caution.

I am confused as to why YOU should be giving him £220? Your IS will not be that much, in total, surely! Are you working at all?

Any grant he gets will be counted as household income.

The dss are not especially good with couples in the throes of breaking up, IMO, so you would need to actually declare that you are not together any more.

You need to go and see someone who knows a lot about this. Try a CAB or advice centre.

If he thinks he is still coming back, and you have not disabused him of that, doesn't that technically make you still a couple?

oh and lol at thread title

you are BU ime, yes. they are hopeless

this is why I had a post funded by the government, ffs, to help people get their benefits sorted. because the dss are useless.

seeing as i am useless, you should probably take any advice from me with a huge pinch of salt, however..It would depend what you told them/us when you first claimed income support. If you mentioned your husband, said that you were still a couple, but maintained separate households due to him studying on the mainland and that you intended to live together again when he had finished his studies, they then paid you as a lone parent, then you would have a case to state that the overpayment is non recoverable as there was an error made by the DWP. Did you mention your husband on your original claim form?