Benefits/Money

[Emma70459]

Hi everyone!
So I really need advice right now.
I'm living with my ex and my 2 kids. Currently heavily pregnant with my third. I wanted to ask whether its possible to apply for UC as a single person (declaring that I live with another joint tenant). I work in a pub earning 300£ a month which is useless really and my ex has been made redundant so we really need to make use of UC. I know the best thing to do is to leave but it's really difficult for us to do that financially and my kids are really young (2 & 1) so we have no childcare available.
Never claimed benefits before so I'm not sure how the process works.
Please advise me

Do you currently get tax credits ?

AFAIK, yes you can apply, but will your claim as a single person be accepted? Doubtful, or at least a lot more difficult than if you were by living together. You’d be expected to provide evidence that you were living totally separate lives.

If your ex is made redundant then why not just file a joint claim?

If you are only earning £300 a month then a joint Uc claim would result in a significant amount of money. If you are still living together as a family, eating together , sharing childcare etc then it might be the easier option to just claim together and then split the claim when one of you moves out. To make a single claim could be tricky, you would need to prove seperate finances etc.

Kids are 2 and 1 and you are heavily pregnant? And hes an ex? Doesn't sound right!

Thankyou for your comments.
I dont claim tax credits.
I dont want to claim as a couple since we are not a couple. His finances are terrible and he is a gambler which is why I have to process all rent and Bill's. I dont want to be linked with him in any way if I can help it.
His family are supporting him financially until he gets another job. So hes paying his half of rent whereas I am unable to pay my share

Baby was conceived during lockdown. Literally decided to call it quits after he started verbally abusing me (again).

I think you may have a tough time proving you're not a couple. 2 children aged 2 & 1 and heavily pregnant.

I'm assuming, from your post, that he supported you financially whilst working, but how he's been made redundant he is claiming UC already?

It would be MUCH better if he moved out

What makes you think he will stop abusing you as a 'flatmate' ?

I would try and ask him to leave, it will make things a lot easier. Presumably you'll be giving up work soon for mat leave so won't have the childcare issues while you work ? You won't get any Uc child element for a third child and only lower amounts for the other two as presumably they were born after April 2017 ?

He did support us financially when he was working. He's getting money from family so he wont be claiming UC (his words).
It is easier if he leaves I agree. But I'm living in a privatley rented flat in London, our rent is disgustingly expensive and UC will not cover this. My income wont help much either.
Plus we have a joint tenancy which doesnt end until next year so arguably, this home is legally his as well as mine

Yes your assumption is correct I will only get child element for my first 2 kids

I don't understand why people would be suspicious if I'm pregnant with his third child and finally decided to end the relationship when I was 3 months into my pregnancy. Relationships do breakdown during pregnancy right?

@Emma70459

I don't understand why people would be suspicious if I'm pregnant with his third child and finally decided to end the relationship when I was 3 months into my pregnancy. Relationships do breakdown during pregnancy right?

You can try and claim as single. You would just need to prove to Uc that all finances are separate, they may ask for detailed explanation of your living situation to prove you are indeed separated so just be prepared for that.

On the Uc application it will ask you if you live with anyone else in the household so you will need to declare him as living there and explain the situation and let it go to a decision maker if need be,

Thankyou babyroobs

Already done this. Deffo declared him as there is no point lying

He sends me money every month because I pay all household Bill's. He has been gambling for 17 years which he has not sought help for so because of this, we are financially linked unfortunately. I can definitely prove that we are living separately however

This is quite a common sceneroo. Claim as single but make sure you separate all your expenses and bills properly and get him moved out. The rent can be dealt with as part of your claim.

No point having him living there and it will not give you time to begin to heal after abuse, if he is still there.

You also not only muddy the water for claiming benefits but also the relationship for yourself and your kids.

Whether he leaves or not the main thing is you can prove there are no shared finances or resources. That you are both independent. They may easily refuse your claim as what they term a 'sham' claim. But ask for a secondary review and state you are willing to attend a tribunal to prove you are single. If that is the truth, you will succeed!

He should claim UC himself
Because it pays his National Insurance contributions, which go towards his state pension & other benefits.
Why wouldn't he claim ?

Whether this is a joint or single claim

If you are making a single claim you should claim child maintenance for 3 children too
Will you be doing this ?

If he is not claiming UC
How will you claim child maintenance from him ?
Via CSA it would be automatically deducted