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Original poster

Married but living in different countires, will it affect my universal credit?

39 replies

AmyLouise2024 · 25/09/2024 10:47

Ive recently got married to my Husband, weve been together for 2 years but he lives and works abroad. He does not come to the uk instead we travel to see one another every 3 months due to his work commitments. Im currently on universal credit due to leaving work and my little boy having ASD.
Im just wondering will this affect my universal credit as he does not live with me?
New to this so not sure if im even posting in the correct place!

OP posts:
XenoBitch · 03/10/2024 15:49

You live apart, so it should not affect your UC. The DWP only really cares of you are actually living together. He does not even live in the UK, so the UC system would not apply to him anyway.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-couples-an-introduction/universal-credit-further-information-for-couples

I know a couple who are married but not living together, and have been for years. They are both autistic and need their own space. One works, and the other is on UC.... they both have totally separate households though. The UC is not affected by this arrangement.

XenoBitch · 03/10/2024 16:48

Blusterydaytodaypoohbear · 02/10/2024 11:54

When we got married we didn't live together for 6 months. I continued to claim benefits.. I had to repay those 6 months. Marriage =financial ties even when not at the same address ime. Not the government's fault you don't live together. Why should they support you when you are in a married relationship?

Was that under tax credits? Because with UC, it is different. You have to be sharing an address to be considered as a couple. OP's DH does not even live in the same country.

AboutVattime · 03/10/2024 17:48

DWP investigations here ..

It's simply depends on how your finances are arranged. Are they completely separate?. Does he give you money? Do you give him money?

The amount of money that people are given to live on in benefits is legislated by law. It assumes that you do not have any more income than you have declared .

Therefore, if you New husband is sending you for example, £1000 a month then you need to declare this and your benefits will be altered accordingly. However, if your new husband sent you nothing and you are entirely financially responsible for you and yours, then you have nothing to declare.

Crikeyalmighty · 04/10/2024 00:16

And we wonder why the country has got problems - if he isn't sending OP money to pay bills and living costs and they are married - then why not? Or maybe they have sussed out between them that if he sends her nothing - then it gets covered off- and I'm not right wing by the way- but am fed up of seeing examples like this of people taking the piss

Emiline · 04/10/2024 00:28

Fiestafiesta · 02/10/2024 11:58

But you’re married - he SHOULD support you, that’s the whole point of being married surely. You are now a financial unit. Why should other taxpayers support you instead of your own husband?

I agree with you. He should be supporting his wife. Yet here we are she’s claiming UC while her husband is “working away”. 🙄

Emiline · 04/10/2024 00:33

XenoBitch · 03/10/2024 15:49

You live apart, so it should not affect your UC. The DWP only really cares of you are actually living together. He does not even live in the UK, so the UC system would not apply to him anyway.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-couples-an-introduction/universal-credit-further-information-for-couples

I know a couple who are married but not living together, and have been for years. They are both autistic and need their own space. One works, and the other is on UC.... they both have totally separate households though. The UC is not affected by this arrangement.

If this is the case then the “system” is flawed. Why should a married couple get UC simply because they live in different households? It’s absolutely ridiculous that this country is supporting a married couple living in different houses.

LoremIpsumCici · 04/10/2024 00:38

Hum. Considering sending DH to work for mega bucks in Dubai and save all his wages while I go on UC…

Seems a bit of a dodge.

XenoBitch · 04/10/2024 01:17

Emiline · 04/10/2024 00:33

If this is the case then the “system” is flawed. Why should a married couple get UC simply because they live in different households? It’s absolutely ridiculous that this country is supporting a married couple living in different houses.

Show quote history

Because being married does not mean you are supporting each other. I said in a PP about a couple who are not living together, but are married. They both have ASD and could need their space. They both have separate bills and finances. One works, and one is on UC. The DWP have deemed their arrangement fine. They are doing nothing wrong.

There needs to be a hard line when it comes to this, and the test here is living together. With UC, you need to be living together to be considered a couple. Lots of married couples split and move apart, but are still married on paper... because getting a divorce is not as simple as just saying you both want it.
And you can be married and living together but also separated.

XenoBitch · 04/10/2024 01:19

Emiline · 04/10/2024 00:28

I agree with you. He should be supporting his wife. Yet here we are she’s claiming UC while her husband is “working away”. 🙄

Show quote history

He is not working away. He literally lives in another country, and does not send her any living costs. Their finances are totally separate.

Fiestafiesta · 04/10/2024 06:50

It is a bit mad that taxpayers’ money has to pay for married couples who choose to live separately like the example above . Literally knocking on your neighbour’s door and asking for £20; and if they say ‘ask your husband’ you say ‘oh we need two houses, and can’t afford them, so you need to pay instead’ . The neighbour looks at their small overstuffed house and rolls their eyes

Fiestafiesta · 04/10/2024 06:52

Sharing finances is literally the point of marriage vs a long term relationship.

LakelandDreams · 04/10/2024 06:54

Why don't you move to Norway so he can support you rather than claiming benefits in this country?

Bgfe · 04/10/2024 06:59

I know a woman who was doing this. 2nd wife in an Islamic marriage. He lived mostly abroad with his first family and she lived here with his 2nd set of children on benefits. He wouldn’t have been recognised as her legal husband though so I suppose it was different in that respect.

mitogoshigg · 04/10/2024 07:19

If you have got married you do need to state this on your claim but you can also state that you live apart. It's a very unusual situation so the rules may not actually cover "living apart together" they may simply state you are separated which is of course common and your claim is fine.

In reality the issue is that the immigration system requires you to be earning a significant sum to bringing in your husband, unless he can find a job with a tied visa you need to return to work

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