Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Money matters

Find financial and money-saving discussions including debt and pension chat on our Money forum. If you're looking for ways to make your money to go further, sign up to our Moneysaver emails here.

Flip

Original poster

Universal credit rules

11 replies

Mummyx3gbg · 26/05/2022 20:34

Hiya, I'm not sure what to do, my partner is in the armed forces, we don't live together as he is in single living Accommodation where he is based. He comes back most weekends to see me and the kids and then stays here when he's on leave. In regards to universal credit how does this work as we don't live together and I claim as a single person and work 12 hours a week but obviously he does stay here on a Friday and Saturday night and sometimes for 3 or 4 weeks when he's on leave. I don't want any nosy neighbours reporting it when he's here during leave and getting in trouble.. any help would be appreciated.

OP posts:

Sparkle123r · 26/05/2022 21:02

There is no clear cut rule. What you need to determine is whether you are two households or one (are you living as a married couple) or are you truly single. Is all his mail/credit items registered to his army accommodation or to yours? You say he comes back, does he consider your home to be his home too? Do you pool your income as if you were a couple or are your finances separate? Does he provide financial support to you that would be in excessive of what child maintenance would be expected. These are things you may be asked if someone does report you. If he does not give you any money financially towards your household bills/upkeep and keeps all his income (bar money for children) you can challenge that you are truly a single parent.

If it's a case of that he essentially is 'working away' mon-fri and the accomodation is there because he can't travel back and then he is home at the weekends, then you are not a single person household.

Babyroobs · 26/05/2022 21:27

Do you have kids together, holiday together, days out together etc? Many people have partners that work away in the week but they don't claim as single.

Andromachehadabadday · 26/05/2022 21:34

Does he pay towards your household bills and expenses? I am not talking CMS. Are they his kids too?

Original poster

Mummyx3gbg · 26/05/2022 22:29

No he doesn't pay anything towards the bills, he gives me child maintenance every month. He comes home on the weekends he can and leave but a lot of the time he's away he's just been on a tour and he goes away for weeks or months at a time.

OP posts:

LilacPoppy · 26/05/2022 22:32

You are a couple , you need to tell UC. Maintenance is not for couple who are in a relationship.

Original poster

Mummyx3gbg · 26/05/2022 22:34

We have a newborn son together but my 7 year old daughter isn't his, it's only been a recent thing him staying when he's on leave etc as normally he would stay with his dad and come see me and maybe stay one or two nights, but since weve had our son he wants to come spend time with him and I do miss him alot especially when he's away so would prefer him to stay here rather than his dad's and just wanted to know how it would work with UC. Like I said I pay all the bills as he has all the bills for his residence down where he's based.

OP posts:

Lou98 · 26/05/2022 22:38

If he has another residential address that he pays all bills for you pay all the rent/bills for your own house without him contributing (other than CM which should be declared to UC anyway) then I wouldn't think he would count as living with you. Different if he didn't have anywhere else he was registered living.

I'm not 100% sure though, that's just what I would think. If it were me I think I would give UC a call and ask them about your situation, that way you're covered if any nosey neighbours did report

Original poster

Mummyx3gbg · 26/05/2022 22:48

Yeah that's a good idea, I'll contact them in the morning and see what they say. I declared the money he pays me for child maintenance it's not a lot just to help out with stuff for baby.

OP posts:

vivainsomnia · 27/05/2022 10:07

You are in a committed relationship though. If it wasn't that he is in the army and instead had a job locally, wouldn't you be living together?

Why is he paying maintenance if you are a couple? As said, many couples have to live separately for work purposes, that's not uncommon.

Does he plan to ask for family accommodation where he is?

popcorndiva · 27/05/2022 10:35

If you have just had a baby together and only stays away when he is at work then he would be seen as living with you for universal credit.

Most job centres have a person who can give advice related to army personnel

Andromachehadabadday · 27/05/2022 10:43

Mummyx3gbg · 26/05/2022 22:48

Yeah that's a good idea, I'll contact them in the morning and see what they say. I declared the money he pays me for child maintenance it's not a lot just to help out with stuff for baby.

Not sure contacting them will help.

This is one of those situations where you could find yourself on either side of the line if reported.

He doesn’t pay you child maintenance. Because you are still a couple. That’s for people who are not together.

Calling it CMS may help, if reported. But if they have evidence that you are an actual couple it may not. technically they may say you are entitled, but then Investigate and decide what you labelled ‘CMS’ wasn’t, as you are together.

but the fact that he has bills elsewhere helps.

Do you have to tell UC if you receive CMS?

Flip