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

As I’ve said I really don’t know - I think the overnight stays started around 3 months ish ago but I really don’t know whether this means most nights or occasionally - she has said occasionally to me but someone has obviously reported her for living with him so maybe it’s more?

Many years ago, my boyfriend had to prove we weren't living together as a couple for benefits. We did flat share in a shared house, but rented separately from the LL, did our own shopping, paid bills separately etc. They were interested in things like did we buy separate tubes of toothpaste, did we have our own shelf in the fridge, own pots and pans etc.

So even a partner that lives at the same address isn't necessarily living "as a couple". We were v young though and in a shared house.

Minuscule amounts I'd have thought as there are economies of scale at play.

UC system is not there to moralise over a single person's lifestyle or how they spend their money. If someone is genuinely living there and paying towards bills that's of course different.

I’ll say one thing. I have reported MANY benefit cheats (and people to HMRC). I see it as my civic duty. Shame I never know how it ends - my cleaning lady was saying how she had a rich boyfriend but even if she moved in with him, she would keep her council house (or whatever they are called). I reported her within 2 minutes of hearing that, asked her for her address to send her a present. Sorry not sorry. So I hope you “friend” gets prosecuted I am tired of seeing my taxes go on these cheats

Just out of interest, have you ever been contacted by HMRC? Or has anyone ever found out it was you who did it?

I suspect it is the greyest of grey areas, bills in her name, but he buys takeaways for everyone, she does his washing. He puts petrol in her car if they go out together, likeI say - grey.

Not according to many, both men and women these days. Of course these videos I’ve seen on Social Media, by men and men commenting, is about the man being okay and have a back up plan for himself 🙄
And apparently even when you have kids together it’s okay to live apart, because as one guy put it ‘that even living together there is no guarantee he will do more’ true.
But officially speaking I personally feel if you are together and you have a child/ren together, you should be living together.
No not everyone will eventually live together, and therefore some of those people feel that is okay to rely on benefits even if they do work too, to help with things, as opposed to living together and pooling finances. But then there are couples who do still qualify for some help.

In terms of benefits not being forever, no I don’t think many planned that.
But as a single person despite possible improvements by way of job/pay increases, and kids grow. Costs are still there, and a full time job even in many cases does not cover things, and therefore often help is still required.

I get it that to work out if there is fraud, and to work out whether they consider people’s arrangements as appropriate or not, they have to have guidelines they use.
But to me that is also wrong, because yes, of course the guy already lived somewhere before the relationship began, and still might, and officially he has everything registered there and pays for things there, because that’s how it was already.
But then has a gf, and starts staying over, ordinarily if benefits were not involved. One can do as they please, if the man for example wanted to pay out where he lives and spend most of the time at his gf’s fair enough.
But when there are benefits paying for her place for example, he is then benefiting from that. It’s wrong that, that is okay just because he’s not on the tenancy, and he has everything registered to his address, and he might not be giving her anything.
But of course as gf/bf you will buy food etc. Go on days out/nights/holidays etc.
Possibly other things too.
Now she is putting him up too doesn’t matter that you would naturally go to visit etc.
Especially because she has kids from previous for example so she is not free to be able to go to his, now the other thing is if they have a child/ren together.
To me I think this muddies the waters even more. Because then maybe they think this gives them more rights. Also that he will be paying things because that’s the home where his child/ren live in. Still doesn’t make it okay for him to then be there more often. People that think they have more rights because of that reason, but then what? Don’t want to fully live with their child/ren, please!

Then I have seen other situations for example where the man’s address is not suitable for him to have his child/ren from previous relationship, so he uses his gf’s place who is in receipt of benefits to have his kids there.
That is another huge wrong to me!

i don’t have an issue if people genuinely need to claim from the state, however if you do then it’s clear that the state has the right to know the ins and outs of what you are claiming for and to check as and when that what you have declared is valid - it’s sad that it has to be this way but I’m afraid the total piss takers out there have ruined it for those playing it totally by the book- I knew 2 different circumstances where in case 1. The couple were an elderly retired couple , had sold a house, then rented, stuck £300k away in various things and then claimed UC, pension credit etc because ‘their pension income’ was at the level they could claim- including their rent - carried on for about 2 years and then somehow got caught out. They didn’t think their savings counted at all . Had to pay a load back -

case 2 - couple fully lived together, he worked cash in hand on building sites, made sure he wasnt registered for council tax - she claimed as a non working single mother of 2 - 7 years of that - he was genuinely bringing home about £400 a week cash back in mid to late 90s. Relative dobbed them in when they fell out.

How did they get evidence for case 2? I can see how with case 1 they could just track the savings but not sure how they could prove case 2?

They do have investigators who will collect evidence, surveillance etc over a period of time.

Ah I see, thanks - I’m thinking of saying Am unable to attend the interview as not sure i feel comfortable

@Labradorlover987 no idea, I’m guessing surveillance though -

The state has no money of its own. Do you realise that? It comes from taxpayers. From your neighbours and friends. From me.

I am a lone parent. I work full time and pay my taxes. Never claimed benefits. I don’t get a single person discount on council tax as my adult son, also working, lives with me. He can’t afford his own place yet as he is saving up and wouldn’t be housed by the state either.

If everyone lives on benefits who is going to be funding them?? Jobs should pay enough for people to live on - I personallt believe UC subsidises some cheapskate employers. The welfare state should be a safety net and not a way of life!

@Labradorlover987I have never heard back also because I report anonymously but I always do - sorry every time a benefit cheat gets a £ he/she is not owed, they are getting my money

What exactly did you report her for?

When my boyfriend stays over it costs me nothing more in anything. My TV does not use more electricity because he is watching it with me and my internet is a fixed price. We eat out together and he comes to mine or comes to mine after we have had our own meals.. Showers at his own home as he lives very close and washes his clothing at his own place.

He does not contribute financially as he is not costing me any money having him here. If we eat together in my house then we go shopping together for the food and split the cost.

Some people are on benefits for life as they are disabled or are only capable of low paid jobs.
Some couples never live together. Some even get married but find living apart is what works for then.
Me and my boyfriend have been together for a few years and have no plans to live together. We are both autistic and need our own safe spaces. He works but does not get offered promotions as working is hard enough for him already without more demands. He salary covers the life he wants to live so sees no point in pushing himself and getting ill and ending up on benefits.
Living apart is what works for us. He lives a very short walk from me so we spend a lot of time together anyway. If we lived together then my benefits would stop. The state cannot say that a couple must live together after a certain amount of time and neither can they say a partner that does not live with you has to financially support you.

Have whatever living arrangement suit you but don’t expect me to pay for it. Are you claiming benefits? If so, my taxes are subsidising this.

If you “don’t really know”

I am shocked you’re even considering getting involved with this op in any shape or form

Goodness you have a lot on op… another thread on the go today about whether or not you should report something to SS!

Yes I am on UC. My boyfriend does not pay for anything except when we eat out or make a meal at my place. No shared finances at all and we have separate households and bills council tax.

Subsidising what exactly? As far as I know the DWP will not be concerned with me having a boyfriend that I do not live with so neither should you. We can not be made to live together.

The OP on another thread

What happens if someone is claiming as a single partner but has a new partner living with them? I know someone who is clearly milking the system - brand new housing association house, works part time (but just over the UC band) and has two children but claims partner doesn’t live with her (he very much does!!)

so you do know she’s committing fraud op?

True, and I’m not saying this in your case. But overall, just because people have their own places and paying things in those places, but then choose to spend most of it at the other persons place, where by the state are paying towards it, then that person could just pay for there too, so rather you can’t have your cake and eat it.

Well you did op according to another thread 😆

They can’t you are right.
But the bf can’t spend 1 night a week or fancy being there 5 or even 7 days/nights of the week, but oh he doesn’t have to pay because he doesn’t live there, and the state must still pay too, because oh you are single and live alone.