If we moved in together, what would we get?

[MeltedEasterEgg]

If me and my partner moved in together, what help would we be entitled to?

At the moment he only works 16 hours. I don't work at all.

We would have 3 children. I receive maintanance for my two, he doesn't receive anything for his.

Any idea what help we would be entitled to?

well, I guess if you moved in together one of you could get a full time job, or you could both get part time jobs because you could share the childcare?

"what would we get?" sounds really awful

Why can't either or both of you work full time?

Nothing I don't think. I will probably never have another relationship for this reason....

I'm not a high earner, have two young children, lots of responsibilities and not much earning potential. Basically, I need my benefits, and I can't ever risk losing them. I can't imagine ever finding somebody who loves me enough, and is in a position to help out if we get together and I lose benefits.

So basically, no help or advice, but I sympathise and I hope you work it out. It's hard. You shouldn't be UN able to have another relationship. But sometimes I thnk moving on to another relationship would be a luxury I couldn't afford (even if I met somebody).

GL

Yes that did sound awful, I was in a rush when I typed that.

The plan would obviously be for one of us to get a full time job. (that's the plan now actually but it's proving difficult).

So I'm wondering, in the short term if we still only had one part time wage coming in, would we be entitled to any help? Would we be worse off finantially than we are now? (we both struggle as it is so wouldn't manage if it was made worse).

But naturally the plan is that either one or both of us would be gaining full time work asap.

I knew somebody would leap on you. But you're entitled to wonder whether or not you can actually afford to move in together, and whether or not, moving in together would be a bad idea, financially.

All very well to say, if you really love eachother etc,,, but when there are 3 children to provide for it's not that idealistic.

What ages are your children (yours and his)

The clue in in your question lovey (which, by the way, is totally reasonable. Nothing wrong with asking) www.entitledto.com I think it is... Have a play around with different set ups, working different hours etc and see how it turns out. Good luck x

In the past I got my earnings and maintenance 'topped up' with tax credits. Getting married made us pretty poor (relatively) but we talked about it and decided that poverty was no reason not to be together LOL so here we are working our bums off to keep our brood!
If we'd actually based our decision upon whether we could afford to marry, we'd have had to not do so. I'm glad we did. Every day.
So, I can't really advise about the benefits aspect, but advocate going with your heart

Agree with morningpaper. It must be hard to get off ur comfy chair and work! You will have 3 kids but there will be 2!!! adult who can work percetly!

I hate to see where my taxes going!!!

meant "perfectly"

Why wouldn't one of you be able to work full time? My DH works full time, I work part time.

Between us (and working around school drop off and pick up times) we try to work to earn as much money as we can for our family.

It has simply ever occured to us to drop our hours and then "see what we can get" from the State.

Sorry, but this pisses me off. The welfare system is supposed to offer a safety net - not an option for people who can't be bothered to work.

We are working to pay tax to keep lazy arses (and I have them in my own family too) at home logging on to their computers to ask questions like "what would we get".

I say, if you're fit and healthy, get out to work!

Err Bluegreen, Read the bloody thread properly will you

That goes for you too Gunnerbean. Read the rest of the thread.

I have read the whole thread, I suspect gunnerbean and bluegreen did too, and I share their sentiment. Two adults fit to work, ONE home to run with ONE set of bills rather than two, 3 children to take care of. What would be the problem?

The problem is the short term. That's all I'm worried about, how would we get by UNTIL one of us managed to find full time work.

The end plan is that both of us will be working full time, at the very least, one would be working full time and the other part time.

But I can't just magic us a job each. Just because we move in together doesn't mean I can walk into the job center and say "Right, I need a job TODAY" there is likely to be a couple of months or so before that happens.

Moving in together will actually make it EASIER for us both to work. Believe me, we're not planning a life of benefits I was more enquiring about working tax credit but nevermind, keep your judges hats on, I'll find the info from somewhere else

Oh, and I'm not sat on my lazy arse all day, I'm working voluntarily until I find a "real" job.

What is so unreasonable about the OP wanting to check out her options? yes moving in with her DP means that they can be each other's childcare and take on more work, but (depending on their skills, what work is locally available etc) it might be counterproductive and end up with them both worse off, if neither of them has particular skills and therefore won't be able to earn much above the minimum wage.
Remember that low pay is a big problem and the main reason why some people remain on benefits when they are able to work.

Oy you lot cut it out. Did you actually read the rest of the thread. They are planning to go to work - if op is a low earner full time may be pointless as the childcare will eat it all - or is that not enough for you. As a full time earner I hate lazy people scrounging my money but these are two up until now lone parents and they may well not have had other options. Are any of you in that position - if not leave out your judgemental nasty stuff. If you cant say anything positive go and post somewhere else - she only wants some advice ffs. And in case you didnt notice the recession has hit low earners the hardest - there is always far higher demand then there is work and it is nigh on impossible to get work in retail, hospitality or construction at the mo unless you have very solid experience, which are the main employers of part time and lower paid hours. Jesus the attitude on here sometimes. Its nice that women are so supportive and considerate when they have all the facts.

Op you can get wtc up until around 19 ooo per year working over 16 hours per work. Not sure what the rates are at the moment but guessing about 50 pounds per week. HTH and good luck with the job search. Some people are just nasty so ignore them. What voluntary work are you doing - if your partner moves in could one or both of you look at one of the gov funded courses to help with your employment prospects?

BlueGreen, fuck off

Overall and unfortunately I think you'd get less than whatever you get now
and thats why many couples hide the fact they live together.

But must depend on so many different things like rent/mortgage on one place instead of 2, letting out the spare place (if there is one). Council tax without the discount. etc etc. I'd say look at that entitled-to website too.