AIBU to think UC should not count money from my boyfriend as income?

[lena105]

I’m dealing with a UC overpayment and they’re now questioning transactions on my bank statements. I made notes for them - books, clothes, hairdressers etc.

UC didn’t even cover my rent or basic living costs. (I used savings to cover the difference, overdraft and occasional help).
I never bother keeping record these transactions.
Sometimes I’d pay for things upfront (credit, klarna etc) and my boyfriend would later pay me back. It wasn’t income, just reimbursements or help.

We do NOT have combined finances at all, we dont live together and the relationship is very volatile (we break up a lot).

Can DWP treat that kind of money as income?
And can they question spending that is not technically covered by UC.

I understand that if i was reckless with money I get from them they had the right to question it, but not money gifts from others.

No technically it is gifted money which can not be counted as income. Especially if he doesn't live with you.
Not the point but if the relationship is so volatile even when you don't live together surely you would be happier single?

It would not count as income, no. It is counted as a gift, and you said it is reimbursement which is fine too. My mum often sends me money because I have made her something or picked up something in a shop that she could not get to.
And they don't care what you spend your money on.
Try not to worry.

with volatility come other good aspects of the relationship 😋possibly at some point we might try to make it more permanent.

Could it be that they think it may be a source of income as a sex worker?
"My boyfriend gives me money from time to time" could be an indication-albeit a wrong one?

Blimey 🤣🤣🤣

Might it be easier if your boyfriend uses Klarna himself to buy things, to avoid the issue in the first place?

Yeah that was my thought, could be raising suspicions of some kind of a fiddle, even if it's entirely innocent. Likewise whatever money he's giving you to 'help', he could just pay for things then it's not going to raise any flags.

Large enough deposits on a regular enough basis are going to look like income, even if they are “gifts”

If you insist on continuing a volatile relationship, please at least keep it free of children. Don’t drag anyone else into an unhealthy situation.

Tip... Don't write Hooker on a CV and you'll be fine.

If by that then you mean good sex, then still not good enough in my books!

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I love MN!

No it's not income. You don't live together so it's just like your mate or your mum lending you money or you going halves on a meal out or something.

As long as it's clear you had separate finances I think it should be fine. They can't call mates helping eachother out or family gifts as income. I'd hope?

In the interest of full honesty, that was my first thought, too.

You don’t have to settle for one or the other. It’s not an either/or thing you know? You can have amazing aspects with someone who’s nice to you as well. Volatility can be exciting when you’re young and drama is everything but it wears off pretty bloody quickly as you get older.

If he’s paying you back, how is he doing it? By bank transfer? If you can link each Klarna payment to each bank receipt then that would probably help you. It’s probably a better idea to either take money from him in cash, or keep finances completely separate and let him use someone else’s Klarna (guessing his credit isn’t great?)

Thank you. The problem is that the payments are not labeled...a total chaos.

I would have to pay him...

Yuck

And like many benefit threads I feel you’re testing out a story on posters because you want to know if it’ll hold water before telling UC

They’ll probably start an investigation into you, have an inspector check your home etc.
As long as you are not living together, you should be okay.

Ask him to pay you in cash.

Like what? Kissy kissy make ups?

no. we talked about it. broke up (few times).
im too messy, chaotic, impulsive and depressed for him.

i need to sort myself out first.

impulsive - hence my spending and the question if dwp can question my spending that is not covered by UC.

If he does not live with you then I’m sure he can prove his own living costs from his bank statement

I don’t see the issue

what is a distinction, a line that getting gifts and money from a boyfriend is not classed as sex work?

This is not the first time you’ve started a thread like this though.

Was your question not answered last time and is this a different bloke?

If it’s in your bank account, then UC can query it.