Does an ex helping, effect Universal Credit?

[Lumos118]

Hey everyone, a hundred google searches later and no clue on the rules with this, any input welcome!

If a couple were together as a family, living together and raising kids together, then split up. One moves out (not biological parent to the children), the biological parent stays at the family home.

Parent at home with the kids is on universal credit. Step-parent living alone is on a good income and not on benefits. Still very involved for the kids and they spend a night at the step-parents, weekends together for family days out etc. But the two parents very much separated, two separate houses, eating and all normal single things done alone for the majority of the time unless as a family. at weekends. Just generally not in a relationship.

Are there any restrictions on what the step-parent can input financially into the family? Obviously not talking bills and household expenses. But paying for a holiday, weekend days out, meals etc? Google can't seem to tell me if that is something remotely an issue or if it's completely fine.

Any ideas?

I would see it like maintenance payments tbh, so no, it shouldn’t be counted as income.

I’m 99% sure it’s not an issue. Same as if grandparents or wider family treat the children. And as above, child maintenance payments aren’t counted as income for UC anyway.

I thought the same, as long as any money is put through as being for children then it doesn’t count.

So if you were ever asked you’d have to tell them it was maintenance for them.

And if they ever asked what it was used for I’d suggest it was for Id day the children’s clothes, days out, meals etc and you paid for your own meals, tickets to days out etc so the money was solely for the children’s part of the meal/tickets etc

I'm the step-parent :) do you think I shouldn't be paying for my ex's tickets etc then? It's a tough one because we are still friends and a close family but the relationship broke down. I have a lot more financial freedom than my ex and like to treat the family but the last thing I want to do is get either of us into trouble.

Separate households? Never married? Not an issue. Just keep gifting whatever you want.

It's no problem. The issue is whether you share household expenses and operate as a couple.

It fine- it's a gift or voluntary payment- should not affect UC at all. Like someone else has already said it can be likened to grandparents paying for a holiday or kids new school shoes/Winter coats.

Spousal maintenance is counted as unearned income and benefits are reduced £ for £. Child maintenance is not counted.

If ex is buying things for the children that's fine, there's no audit trail. Handing over money would be another matter, if this ex does not have to pay any child maintenance.

She wouldn't be in any trouble if you paid for a ticket to a theme park, the only problem would be if you were regularly contributing to her household bills