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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

should my partner help with the bills if i have 2 children from previous relationship?

132 replies

welshbyrd · 07/02/2009 18:42

my partner moved almost 100 miles to be with me in april last year. But since they he has contributed almost nothing to the house. The aol, phone bill, rent, shopping ( he will pop to the shop from time to time, n get some milk etc) sky bill, ive paid everything, i have 2 children from a previous relationship also. He is a lovely, moral onest person, and we have never so much as swore at each other, we dont argue, n he truely is the most thoughtful loving partner anyone could hope for. Apart from this one thing, he has a good job, and up until september last year i also had a very good job. But it is seasonal, and i wont be back there until may. So have been claiming benifits foor me and my children since. He is aware of my money troubles, just before xmas my car died, and i have not been able to buy a new one because of all the bills. I wrote him a letter 2 weeks ago explaining that i think its wrong he doesnt contribute anything to the house, and the fact had he of helped me, i would not have used my saving for the bills, and therefore would still have a car.it also said i thought he had taken advantage of my good nature, and that i thought we should split. i chose to write a letter rather than confront him because he is not an arguementive person, the next morning, he had left me a note saying he would find somewhere else to live in that week, and he is still here, we havent spoken about the letters, however, i will not sleep in the same bed as him. Im pregnant at the moment, and am dreading it if we split, because of the baby. Well not just because of the baby but because, i know this money thing makes him sound selfish, but he truely is one of the most thoughtful ppl ive ever met.
am i being unreasonable?
When he 1st moved here he gave me his cash card and number and said help yourself, to which i replied no i dont want your card.
In the last two weeks since the letters, its been unbearable, we do all we can to avoid each other, when my kids are not here. when they are, we are civil, and dont cause an atomsphere. Today kids went to thier dads, and for most of the day he sat upstair, and i was downstairs, we smoke outside, preparing for the baby, so other than a needless conversation about the weather, while we have been smoking, its been utter silence, this afternoon i was at breaking point with the atomsphere, and was quite teary for an hour or so, he was upstairs unaware. I want to sat something, i dont know what, but dont want to just approach him out of nowhere, in the way that he didnt see it coming, and in a way that e doesnt think its my hormones, but geniunly how i feel?, yanno i feel at mo, i could watch him pack his stuff, id be upset, but almost releieved, purely because the last 2 weeks of poite conversation, and virtual ignoring of each other will stop

OP posts:
Lulumama · 07/02/2009 20:00

what other way is there to help?

OP asked if her partner should help with the bills...answer is a resounding yes

but pertinent questions are bieng ignored

welshbyrd · 07/02/2009 20:00

im aware i could get into trouble claiming in this situation, but i do geniunely get money from nowhere else to look after my children, i dont want to be doing this, if i was happy with it i wouldnt have posted this, im aware its probably my own doing, however, ive got 11 weeks left to sort this out, and be ready and prepared for my baby, i want this all sorted before she is born, and no my job wont be active when i first go back, ill be working a few early evenings which will include the tuck shop, getting hot chocolate ready for bedtime, making sure lights are out, just general nighttime shifts for 1st 2 months or so, so shall not be over doing it, shall go back to working days, after a few months

OP posts:
Ingles2 · 07/02/2009 20:00

do you think? I just think she sounds really naive

LibrasJusticeLeagueofBiscuits · 07/02/2009 20:01

Ingles I think the theory is that if we scare the bejesus out of her enough she might do something about her predicament.

StewieGriffinsMom · 07/02/2009 20:01

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Ingles2 · 07/02/2009 20:01

WB, are you going to talk to him about this? when?

Lulumama · 07/02/2009 20:02

and again, how is your partner planning on supporting you and your mutual child, and does the father of your other two children contribute?

what if , god forbid, you got sick or your baby was ill and you could not go back to work as planned? would he help then?

does he not understand taht you are in an impossible situation ehre? he is not moral , not if he is allowing this situatiuon to continue

you could be fined or worse if you are found out

Ingles2 · 07/02/2009 20:02

can understand that Libra, but I reckon she'll run a mile.

beanieb · 07/02/2009 20:02

Smoking and benefit fraud aside when you say "the next morning, he had left me a note saying he would find somewhere else to live in that week, and he is still here, we havent spoken about the letters" the only advice I can give is that you now speak to him face to face about when he is leaving or if he is planning on staying. You say he is not an argumentative person but it doesn't have to be an argument, it should be a discussion in an adult way.

you also say "also said i thought he had taken advantage of my good nature, and that i thought we should split" but then say "m pregnant at the moment, and am dreading it if we split, because of the baby. Well not just because of the baby but because, i know this money thing makes him sound selfish, but he truely is one of the most thoughtful ppl ive ever met.
am i being unreasonable?"

well... no, I don't think you are being unreasonable to want him to contribute financially to his upkeep, it really has nothing to do with you having two kids - he should be paying some rent and money towards bills.

I think your messages to him are mixed in that you are giving him the message that you want to split over this when really it doesn't seem like you do. His silence and failure to move out when he said he would could mean that he is being quite devious and manipulative. The only way you can stop this is by telling him that from now on he will have to pay you an agreed amount a month or he will have to move out.

expatinscotland · 07/02/2009 20:02

and you know, too, welsh, that it doesn't matter if you don't get income from anywhere else. the DWP and the HB people at the council do not CARE about that. all they care about is that you have someone living with you as a partner and you have not told them. and he is earning.

so you don't have 11 weeks to sort this out.

you need to sort this NOW.

LibrasJusticeLeagueofBiscuits · 07/02/2009 20:04

WB, I know it's not much help now but why couldn't you get temporary work whilst waiting for your seasonal job to start again?
I have to say I was caught by the living with the partner and therefore not entitled to benefits law myself (caught i.e. I couldn't claim not that I did fraudelently) and it does suck if your partner doesn't support you but this should be added impetus to talk to him.
Please just talk to him, you never know you might be pleasently surprised after all you are having a child together.

Desiderata · 07/02/2009 20:04

I'm smelling a rat, though.

People of the OP's generation just text, don't they?

StewieGriffinsMom · 07/02/2009 20:05

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RealityIsMyOnlyValentine · 07/02/2009 20:07

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VeraDuckworthsHandbag · 07/02/2009 20:08

I am sorry but why should the tax payer pay for your children and your smoking when you have a partner with a job?

It is people like you who make it hard for decent people who need the state help to get it.
My advice would be grow up, stop spending the tax payers money on fags and stop having babies by men who wont pay for their upkeep.

welshbyrd · 07/02/2009 20:28

Ingles, i thank you for your advise, and the fact you can see what im doing it not through willing wanting to be doing this. The whole point of my question was to ask for help, so i could get out of this situation, if i was happy with it, why would i post the question. It scares the life out of me how much trouble i could get into, that is why im asking advise on how best to fix it. Ive never claimed benfits before septmeber of last year in my whole life. Its all well and good telling me how much trouble i can get into, which im very aware of, think rather than grinding me down with the fact( of which i already know) im claiming benefits in this way, but to answer my original question, so i could get myself out of this mess. So can look forward to the birth of my child. And yes, my childrens dad do pay child support, to which i dont get, but the benefits agency do,the money for child support is paid to them, because they pay me. i wont get a payment until i get employment again.

OP posts:
Lulumama · 07/02/2009 20:30

surely the money is then passed to you?

you did not say initially you needed help, with getting out of a fraudulent situation. just should he contribute or should you split

he should feel obliged, morally, to contribute to your family life

you have not said how he is planning on supporting this mututal child

Lulumama · 07/02/2009 20:31

the easiest way to get out of this mess, is to kick him out

or ask him to contribute so you can stop claiming

they are your only two choices

LauriefairycakeeatsCupid · 07/02/2009 20:31

Welshbyrd - the reason we're all telling you this over and over again is to help you. You need to realise that YOU are the only one who will get into trouble over this not the idiot who refuses to share his money with you.

To answer your original question - if he was a moral person which you claim then he would not in good conscience let you claim benefits and sponge off you. He would be paying you - end of.

expatinscotland · 07/02/2009 20:33

people have told you to help yourself by STOPPING this situation NOW.

by talking to him NOW and tonight before he lands you in some real hot water.

you shouldn't have had to, because someone who was unselfish, honest and thoughtful wouldn't have put you in this situation.

LibrasJusticeLeagueofBiscuits · 07/02/2009 20:34

"The whole point of my question was to ask for help, so i could get out of this situation"

We have told you what you need to do, go talk to your DP. We are not able to magic up a miracle solution from thin air, you need to provide the solution.

StewieGriffinsMom · 07/02/2009 20:35

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Ingles2 · 07/02/2009 20:36

they're right WB. you only have 2 choices really.
If you love him, I suggest you talk to him as soon as possible. you really don't need this hanging over your head.

techpep · 07/02/2009 20:36

If he is living with you illegally, i think the only way to realise how uch it coss for general day to day livin is to come off the benefits and show him how much he needs to pay. Until you do this he is getting an easy ride, oh and if you get caught, you're the one in trouble not him.

ilovemydogandMrObama · 07/02/2009 20:41

Have you looked into Maternity Allowance? It's when women don't qualify for SMP (statutory maternity pay) for a variety of reasons such a length of time with employer, etc. Call DWP about it.

Think men and women communicate differently about money. He offered his cash card which in male-speak means, 'what's mine is yours, please take what you need...'

That you refused and now are criticizing him for not contributing has probably put him into a total tail spin.

Ask him if he wouldn't mind rewinding a bit.