Separating from partner - UC claim

[blackwellsj]

Been in the process of separating for about a week now but are still having to live in the same house due to the Coronavirus outbreak and I have no funds to leave at the moment and he is going to buy me out of the house.

Do I need to wait until I am living separately to make a UC claim? As I have only been working 3 days a week in order to minimise childcare costs for our 4 year old and as of the beginning of April have been furloughed until at least the end of May. This means my monthly income is now down to around £640 and once I pay half of the bills will have nothing left to save in order to be able to leave.

We are trying to be amicable but even after just a week it is starting to become slightly strained and don't want things to get worse while waiting for him to get a mortgage sorted.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

You

Sorry - all thumbs.

You should find a way to do it. Unfortunately I’ve been looking into this this week for similar reasons. (DH has suddenly decided to come out as gay mid-lockdown).

You can technically claim as a single person while still sharing the house, but they will probably ask for some kind of evidence of the split.

If you are married or civil partnered, starting divorce or dissolution proceedings to generate paperwork is the easiest way.

If not, you can get a Child Arrangement Agreement rubber-stamped by the court or a solicitors letter outlining plans or similar (cannot think of more examples at this time of night but I’m sure there are several), that would probably satisfy DWP.

Maybe also a sworn, notarised affidavit would do it, thinking about it (if you can find a notary that’s open). Should be about forty of fifty pounds, depending where you are.

I put a claim in the other day- I has to, I loat my job. Been sleeping in DDs room and they didn't question me about it over the phone.

Thank you for the replies. Going to give the application a go today.

I have just done the application but didn't know whether I should have put my usual income or the reduced furlough income. Does anybody know please?

You need to be aware that if your ex buys you out of the home then if you have capital of 16k you will not be able to claim UC. If that money is going straight to another property then it may be disregarded for a period of time.