Universal Credit review and ex helping with bills, what should I expect?

[FirmHedgehog]

I have a UC review coming up. I’m on my own with 2 kids. I’ve submitted my statements etc

i got myself in such a financial mess at Christmas my ex had to help me. He doesn’t and never has paid maintenance. He has continued to cover some of the bills and I’m still scraping the barrel every month. I work full time. I didn’t tell them he was helping. What will happen? Will they go back further than 4 months? So worried.

What do you mean by pays some bills. Does he pay them from his account. Or does he put money in your account to cover them. If he is putting money in just say it is child support. This is okay for him to do. Why does he not pay regular child support. Although I’m am aware that isn’t easy to get. My ex pays random amounts in when he can be bothered. When I had my review they just asked about the ad hoc payments and I explained he pays when he feels like it

You need to contact CMS if your ex doesn't pay child maintenance.

It’s child support (which he should be paying regularly!!!) and it has no impact on your UC.

i also had cash gifts from family during my review period which I used to clear debt which they were completely fine with too.

Why isn’t he paying child support?

Just explain it as you have above.

If he's the Father of the children then it could be treated as child maintenance which is disregared,

To be treated asunearned income and affect the UC you're paid it has to be from a source listed in the Reg 65 onwards in the 2013 UC Regs. Help from other people is not listed.

When we split we kept the joint account which he handles. I get paid UC and put what I can in it Then rent, and household bills comes out of it and he uses the account for his own stuff. I pay for everything else - car, kids etc.

He no longer lives in the UK so can’t get any support from him.

Am lucky he’s helping at the moment.

You need to remove yourself from the joint account. This is all very messy. You need to have all the household bills etc going out of an account in your own name. He needs to be paying maintenance.

This is all very messy. This looks like you still have joint finances. Why are you keeping a joint account with an ex? You need to separate everything and get him paying proper maintenance.

It would probably be better if you were not intermingling money but as you live apart with him outside the UK there's no basis for anyone to assert it should be a joint claim

If it works and is best left then you will be fine. ²

They do question everything, even down to a few quid (under £20) from things I sold on Vinted!!

This sounds like you are still together and he is just working abroad. They will question why you still have a joint account.

They might but if @FirmHedgehog explains why as they have done here they will be fine.

The test in UC is whether you are part of household. Advice for Decision Makers says that question is a matter of fact in each case. Living apart is fatal to proving a common household.

Even it they were still an item his being outwith the UK would mean a single claim is needed. If he were just working away in this country there's a period (6 months?) after which UC will see them as two households.

Ahh.. benefit fraud. Lovely

This. Is your ex paying bills directly from his account? Who's name is on the bills?

You definitely will be in trouble for this. Every single payment is questioned. Why would your ex be spending from your joint account?

If you are going to accept regular financial help from a partner, friend or relative best get them to contribute it in cash or to pay for a big weekly shop which will not appear in your account..

No she won't. Ex doesn't live in the country. OP will likely have to explain why she continues with the joint account but the payments from the ex are gifts without reservation and will not affect a claim. All claimants can receive gifts of money which will not affect their entitlement so long as the capital limits are not exceeded.

It’s absolutely fine, mine gives me a big chunk for shared bills and it wasn’t even brought up. They just want to know if you live alone, if you’re earning loads on the side, having high savings. Not dribs and drabs or money given from people

They have to justify the call by asking some stuff. Did your money change as a result?

The fact you have a joint account and he pays bills, be prepared for them to shut down your single claim.

If you don't have even a basic understanding of how UC works - see Regs on what counts as income - better to keep quiet.

No, all stayed the same. I think they would be more concerned if you were buying/selling on Vinted as more of a business. These where just the odd items here and there that had sold for 2/3 quid - outgrown kids clothes etc

It's not. It's surviving.

You will be ok.
People are allowed to send you money to help out.
The only real issue with this is that it is your ex sending you money... but if he does not live with you, then it will be fine.

But the ex is also using the joint account for his spending. What is the difference between being a couple where one person is working away to being single but still having a joint account both use for all sorts of spending not just bills - it looks suspicious