Couples who live separately so they get additional financial support

[slimline]

A couple I know got married over a year ago, yet they still live separately. She has two children from a previous relationship and lives in a 3 bed house. He lives in a 2 bed house and has no children. I mention the size of their homes because it’s clear that there is ample space for the entire family to live under one roof. I can’t think of any other reason for their separate living arrangements (considering they have made a commitment to each other through marriage) aside from financial security, as her eldest child has SEN and she doesn’t work. He is working, which I assume could complicate things if he were to move in. Yes, I understand it’s legal, but I can’t help but think they’re taking advantage of the system in some way. This isn't the first time I've heard of couples or families living apart in order to increase their income. I’m ready to be accused of benefit bashing or called all the names under the sun. Don’t care sorry!

It’s sarcasm hun 😂

Key word there is seem, isn’t it?

Answer my question first.

Answer the question.

I think the OP is the type that would move a man in despite it causing distress to one of her children.

If he moved in, he wouldn't have his own rent, council tax and utility bills to pay so money would be freed up to pay the bills on the family home. It wouldn't make sense for a couple to go to the trouble and expense of a second home just to claim benefits to cover the cost of said second home.

Then why ask if you should if you know the answer.
Op your embarrassing yourself.

Okay. I am not sure, maybe they wouldn’t if the mum was genuinely hard up. For the husband, he’s definitely worse off renting than moving into hers (as she’d retain some of her benefits). But if the mum was working and was able to support herself and her kids then yes I can very much believe that they’d choose not to live together. Loads of couples do where one or both of them have kids from a previous relationship.

But they aren’t gaming the system if they aren’t living together. They would be if they did live together but pretended not to. There’s a difference.

Woman with children doesn’t move new partner in… sounds ideal and protective of the dc. I think that’s generally what’s advised on mn to women dating. If anything happened to dh and I was dating again, I really don’t think I’d want to live with a man - him staying at his own place and me in mine sounds great.

It maybe that the disabled child wouldn't cope with moving and so they want to ensure the child can stay in same home.
It may work best for the disabled child that he stays put and that dad comes to child's home when mum goes to spouse and dad goes to his home and mum comes back.

There are millions of possible reasons why the family may need to live like this all of which are non of your business.

Maybe the SEN child couldn’t cope with someone new moving into the home and his mother and step dad prioritised that? Maybe they just like their own space? My dad and step mum lived separately for years and have only recently started living together full time as my dad’s dog and step mum’s cats wouldn’t get along. There’s a million reasons it could be.

I dont know what you asked but i can answer on thing for you.
You sound very jealous.

Tenants, ‘rent payers’, DO pay council tax 🙄

Wait till someone gets the OP to read up on MIRAS 😀

I was on a little bit of a wind up but the reality is every life is different and I also don’t live with my child's dad because it works better for me I wouldn’t be able to live with him he pays me maintenance and that’s how it works. My universal credit doesn’t stretch far cause I earn a little bit also so I don’t think it’s quite fair to be tarnishing people when it’s not like we are getting thousands and thousands in benefits. I don’t get so wound up about it but that being said I’m in my 30s and up until December 2025 I worked fulll time paying my tax but also getting support with rent and childcare from UC so it’s swings and roundabouts.

Ask your mate. She’s the only one who knows. Lol.

OP, if you feel so strongly about the 'benefits' these people have, despite acknowledging they are legal, why don't you campaign to have the benefits rules changed rather than waste time here?

I dont think op is coming back.

A lot of her comments have been deleted i think she's been banned

I notice that.

No, won’t answer a question which involves bitching about someone’s life when knowledge of the actual facts around a couple’s living situation is incomplete. It’s just not reasonable.

if, however, it were made illegal to claim benefits as a single person when you live separately from your spouse
a) people who want to live apart wouldn’t marry in the first place if their soul purpose for living apart were to claim benefits. Saving exactly £0 for the tax payer
b) consider where this would leave married couples living apart because the relationship has broken down. There are already multiple ways an ex spouse can delay divorce to cause problems for the other half of the now defunct couple. Plenty would delay divorce further if it meant their ex couldn’t claim benefits. The impact on children with this kind of conflict is high.

But then he wouldn't have those coats at his home.

Has it occurred to you her SEN child might not cope with them living together?

There are no longer any ways to delay divorce by the way. It can be granted on one persons day so, as long as the couple has been married for a year.