Tax credits and having a partner

[MochaRioja]

I have received a letter from HM Revenue and Customs asking, I assume as a standard letter rather than being reported, whether I should be claiming Tax Credits as a single claim still or a joint one?

I currently claim as a single person because I live on my own with my two children and their father (we are divorced) pays maintenance.

I have a boyfriend who I have been with for 18 months, he has his own rented flat which he lives in, we wouldn't class him as living with me at all. He might stay 1 - 2 nights a week or sometimes none. He doesn't contribute any money towards my outgoings or household and he has quite a bit to fork out for paying his own rent/bills etc. I stay at his maybe 4 nights a months when the kids are with their dad.

Do I need to tell Tax Credits I have a partner? I don't see why I would need to make a joint claim when he doesn't live with me in part or otherwise or contribute.

Any advice welcome because I now feel worried.

Thank you.

this is a standard letter they have sent out.....seen many posts over last few weeks from worried lone parents!

how dare they prey on single mums, worrying the life out of them! why aren't we getting angrier at this

do they send similar letters out to other benefit claimants like this? are single parents deemed as being a bit thick and need "prompting" to remember if they are with a partner or not? is that what they think?

If he doesn't subsidise you in any way, you don't need to have a joint claim. You can't be penalised for having a boyfriend.

Oh is that the letter that insultingly goes on to describe different types of partners, just in case you're too thick unsure whether you live alone or not . Yes had one of those, binned it, I suggest you do the same.

It's a standard letter but if you have separate finances and he live else where then you don't have to worry . These letters are more aimed at couples who have been together years, have a couple of kids together yet claim to live separately usually with the man living at his mams round the corner., and the woman claiming as single and raking in extra benefits. It happens a lot and I guess their aim is to stamp it out.

From the info you gave he is not your partner for tax credit purposes.

Oh thank goodness! I was worried because he might stay a couple of nights etc although he doesn't have dinner and rushes off to work early so doesn't have breakfast either. I stay at his maybe 4 nights a month. 😐

Yes there is a list of "what I may need to consider " as a partner. It was the bottom one which says " friends and/or family see you as a couple (or see the other person as your partner) that worried me because of course friends and family see us as a couple

We have plans to live together in the next year or so but I intended to tell Tax Credits then when we are sharing finances but didn't think I needed to tell them before this if we aren't sharing finances.

It was the bottom one which says " friends and/or family see you as a couple (or see the other person as your partner) that worried me because of course friends and family see us as a couple

Yes that is ridiculous, you could have a boyfriend of 5 years and not live together, friends will obviously see you as a couple, doesn't mean your dp is contributing to your household finances. It's the suggestion that if you have a boyfriend then he must be financing you I find most insulting. Not all couples live together ffs.

Yes that was quite insulting because it insinuates that if family and friends see you as a couple then your finances must be joint