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Couple or Single Claim?

2 replies

Fannybaws52 · 17/06/2020 10:49

Hi all

Hoping for advice on behalf of my friend.

She and her husband split up in January but they still live together. They have a 2 bed flat and the only DC is an adult now who lives elsewhere.

My friend has just lost her job and has zero income. Her (ex?)DH does not give her anything. She told me they had separate finances and each chipped in half to cover rent etc.

Now she has no income, she is in a state. He is making threats about kicking her out etc. She has spoken to Shelter and has been advised but needs help re claiming any benefits she may be entitled to.

The question is can she claim as a single person who has 'other' or 'relative' living with her or does his income and the fact they are not legally divorced mean she has to apply as married couple?

They each have their own bank account plus they share 1 savings which is empty and 1 joint they kept open to pay bills. He is in a separate bedroom.

I tried to look online to answer this but its vague so thought I could try here. They are in Scotland.

Thank you Flowers

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 17/06/2020 11:46

She can claim Universal credit as a single person but I think would need to make sure she can prove that they are in no way financially linked. It would help if they could have a joint tenancy and show that they are both equally liable for the rent. Otherwise it could throw up problems. They should have no shared bank accounts/ not share meals/ days out / holidays etc otherwise they are likely to be seen as a couple.

Lockdownlooks · 17/06/2020 11:51

She could give Citizens Advice Scotland a call, the help to claim section

www.cas.org.uk/helptoclaim

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