Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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.

Getting divorced but still living together. Can I claim universal credit and how?

6 replies

Lookingforward864 · 06/03/2026 14:40

We are just about to start the divorce process. House will need to be sold and proceeds split to both buy a smaller property each outright. We will need to live together until this is done so anything up to a year I suppose.

He earns a good amount. I was working part time on minimum wage. I have no savings. But I finished work last year to be having a degenerative back and leg problem. I was having too much time off and in too much pain to work. Most days I can hardly walk.
Anyway, I have been claiming New Style Employment and Support Allowance which pays me £350 ish pounds a month. But only for 12 months. This is because ive paid enough national insurance over the past 2 years. I have the capability for work assessment on Sunday.
I also claim full rate pip for my condition. And £187 child benefit. So my current income is about £1200 a month. When I hit the 12 months in September I will lose the esa payment.

As far as I can tell, I can claim universal credit now we are divorcing? I have read that there needs to be proof of separate lives.
We basically live separated already and have for years, have separate bedrooms etc. Only think left that we share is a joint bank account that the direct debits for bills come out of. I will close this down.

I have nothing to hide and doing everything properly, but for those who have already done it, what proof do I need to provide them with? Food shopping recipes? How can I prove i do my own washing and cooking?
I already pay everything for the kids. Bills wise all bills are in my name but husband actually pays them.
I understand we will need to pay half each , thats fine , but is it best to pay different bills each or 50% of each bill? All feels complicated but I need to claim the benefit as husband is a very difficult man and will just refuse to pay for things

OP posts:
Burningbud1981 · 06/03/2026 15:02

You can claim as single if you are living completely separate. This is includes financials cooking etc. You would
need to look at paying 50% of bills and mortgage. You or him paying all the bills is you supporting the other and that would mean you still would need to be on a joint claim. You would need to do a change of circumstances to say no longer living with a partner. UC don’t initially ask for proof. If you want further information you can have a look at the decision makers guide to living together as a married couple. This is the guidence DMs use to see if there should be a joint claim

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7575a740f0b6397f35e96f/adme4.pdf

Lookingforward864 · 06/03/2026 15:08

I dont currently claim universal credit and never have so this would be a completely new claim
I actually pay more out per month than him but he pays the bills side. Obviously we will change this straight away. But again what do you need to show them? Bank statements?

OP posts:
Lookingforward864 · 06/03/2026 15:08

We own the house outright so dont pay rent or mortgage

OP posts:
Burningbud1981 · 06/03/2026 17:34

@Lookingforward864 You don’t need to show them anything. They’ll accept your circumstances upon application. When you apply you say you’re not living with a partner.

ForPinkDuck · 06/03/2026 17:36

Yes somewone i know did it. Just be upfrount with the situation. Best of luck.

Bromptotoo · 07/03/2026 13:49

You can get Universal Credit if you're estranged but living under the same roof through force of circumstance.

However they will expect you to show completley seperate lives inclusding, particularly, finances and food.

I assume having a joint 'kitty' for bills wouldn't count.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page