Tax credit claim while still living together

[askingforaseparatingfriend]

I am asking on behalf of a friend, with her permission.

My friend is separated from her husband (decree nisi granted) but they are still living together while they negotiate the financial agreement (because neither will move out).

They are leading separate lives (they can't speak civilly to each other), but have a joint mortgage and jointly own the house.

Is it possible for my friend to claim Tax Credits as a single person while her stbx husband is still living in the house? He has stopped contributing enough to meet the household outgoings, and my friend needs help (from Tax Credits?) to keep things going for the DCs.

Any advice would be welcome!

A friend of mine did this. Call the hotline. Explain the situation honestly. Unless the rules have recently changed, she should be able to claim as single.

My claim started as soon as we told the children. We cook eat launder separately. I have numerous police numbers from when he's behaving badly but he's just this side of the line that i can't get him removed. You can't back date a claim so get your friend to request a claim form asap

I got told no as he was still contributing financially

I had to do this when I split from my ex husband. He worked overseas for most of the year so not sure if that made any difference.

I did it for a few months while living with exh. I just filled in the form and wrote a covering letter explaining we had separated and divorce proceedings had started but I wouldn't be moving out until I had my settlement money. A few weeks later I was receiving my tax credits, no questions asked.

Thanks, it sounds like she should make a claim.

I claimed too, separate finances although a joint account just to pay the mortgage until the house sold. I wrote to them to explain the situation, to cover my back.