To ask whether anyone here has ever been investigated by DWP for “living with a partner”?

[Labradorlover987]

My friend has just been asked to attend a compliance interview at the job centre - she claims universal credit as a single mother to 2 kids, and single person council tax discount she has a boyfriend but they don’t live together full time - he lives with his father - he obviously stays over 3/4 nights a week.

Just wondered what the process was etc

I had a letter many years ago when I was receiving tax credits saying they suspected someone was living with me. I was very surprised as I wasn't in a relationship at all and no one even came round. I later realised that my ex had used my address for a mobile phone contract. Nothing happened and I didn't hear anything else, but it was easy to prove as he lived permanently out of the country.

If you genuinely live separately its not an issue, and its not hard to prove either. Your partner will have bills, mortgage or rent contract somewhere else, debit card statements showing shopping deliveries to their own house, pets with that address registered with the vet, electoral records.

Where people get suss is when you have a 40 year old bloke saying he doesn't live with his UC claiming girlfriend, he lives with his mum/mate tom/sister, but he:

• sleeps most nights with the gf
• doesn't pay rent, mortgage or bills anywhere else
• has "her" address on his tesco/amazon/deliveroo account

It doesn't add up.

FFS im merely pointing out that the rules for single parents mostly women seem to be different than for men like my neighbour The misogyny is baked in.

Didn’t even know this was illegal. Presumably she pays all the bills?

Yeah I think she does tbh - I know she gets her rent paid by UC and then gets the single person element of UC & council tax reduction

They’re not different though, the same rules apply! I certainly haven’t said what he’s doing is ok

First of all is the compliance interview under caution ? If so then she’ll need urgent legal advice.
she would have had a message to say they have information to suggest she’s living with a partner. If she’s ignore that and not replied to UC the next step is compliance.

There are no set nights a partner can stay as long as they are not financially supporting and maintaining their own residence elsewhere. UC are looking to see if they are living together as a married couple (LTAMC). The guidance for UC decision makers is available on line

A frequent narrative on here is "keep your beak out", "fraud is only a TINY % of benefit claims" and "what about Amazon" Coconutter ... to some we're not supposed to think than more than one thing can be wrong at the same time

The boyfriend who does groundworks for cash in hand sounds dubious too and the DWP have seen it all before, so good luck to the claimant trying to insist he doesn't really live there

I know she had a message online about a compliance interview which is next week - she’s asked me to accompany her to this

These are good points. And it seems that the state is very ready to recognise you formally as a couple when it suits them to do so on the grounds that you do your laundry together or share food shopping, but if one of you dies and there might be inheritance tax up for grabs, you're only recognised as a couple if you're actually married.

Double check the interview isn’t under caution.

As long as she can prove her partner isn’t financially supporting her and he maintains a residence elsewhere she should be fine.

if not…

I will do, thank you

I think if there are no bills or correspondence coming to the address under his name, and he has proof he lives elsewhere it should be ok?

Has she got kids with the bf?

They may want to visit the house. If his stuff is there and it looks like they're a couple that could be a red flag.

She has two kids (12&10) but not with him

Thank you. If he genuinely doesn't live there and they don't pay for eachothers bills, food, phone etc I hope it's be fine.

I was investigated four years ago after some nosey person decided I shouldn't have a boyfriend .
Its a long distance relationship(see each other at weekends alturnating between mine and his) Anyway I could easily prove that we 'Maintained separate households ' by supplying his bank statements,tenancy agreement and copies of bills that proved he lived elsewhere .I was completely honest and told them we spent weekends with each other and went on holiday together but they closed the case with no further action. ..its probably quite easy to prove someone lives elsewhere when they are paying bills,council tax and are employed some distance away .

I did but it was about 15 years ago. They had all my bank statements and asked me about some payments and checked that I was paying all my main bills myself

I think I took evidence of bills/electoral register etc that were addressed to my partner's actual address

If he genuinely doesn't live there and they don't pay for eachothers bills, food, phone etc I hope it's be fine

So do I, @DiscoBob, but once alerted they won't just take the claimant's word for it - they'll want bank statements too, and will be quite used to hearing "Oh they only paid my bill that one time", "They only send that to my address because it's safer" and so on

Did you have to go to the job centre for the interview?

Together less than a year and he’s staying over half the week. And after they’ve already been around one abusive relationship previously so have witnessed unhealthy dynamics before. Poor kids 😔

I know, I don’t think it’s right either

It’s pretty straightforward. Ask her:

• is he registered to vote at the property he owns with his dad
• is his dad claiming single person council tax discount
• does he pay the bills, gas, electric, water etc from his bank account at his own property
• does he pay her any money regularly for staying there or pay any of her bills
• has he changed to her address for GP, driving licence or bank

as long as he can show the 3 top things then it will be fine.
If he can’t prove the first 3 or the last two apply they are likely to sanction and or prosecute.

it’s a tough one because I agree you shouldn’t lose all benefits in the early days of a relationship, but if you are getting bills paid or regular money from a bf it’s a bit of a cheek to claim universal credit (and fraud)

If you’re close friends then have you spoken to her about this? Are the kids girls? Bad either way but if they’re girls it’s also worth mentioning some pretty thought provoking stats to her re unrelated males being moved into the home.

If she can prove he’s not resident there and doesn’t contribute to the household she’ll be fine. DWP are looking for signs they are living together as would a married couple. One word of warning though. If this is an interview under caution, it’s wise to take a solicitor. She needs to check.

As PPs have said they need to prove where his sole and main residence is. If the Dad has claimed Single Person Discount and given her address then it is a pretty open and shut case. They can check the electoral register at both addresses, his credit records. If he genuinely lives with his Dad he should have proof of credit, his driving licence, proof he is paying his Dad board, wage slips to his Dad's house etc.