Hi, my name is rosewright71! What proof would DWP need that we are no longer living as a couple?

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rosewright71

My husband and I are getting divorced from one another as we lead separate lives and no longer have anything in common. We will be applying for the decree absolute in a few weeks time. However, we still wish to share the same flat, and we are both on the tenancy agreement- my soon to be ex-husband works away and I travel a lot, as a pet sitter, so we don’t see much of each other at all. It is a convenient arrangement for both of us.

My soon to be ex-husband and I do everything as if we are in separate households - shopping, cooking, washing etc. I have a number of disabilities/mobility issues and am looking at applying for PIP also. Would I be entitled to help for my half of the rent, council tax etc? As we are essentially two separate households living under the same roof.

What proof does the DWP need that we are no longer living as a couple?

Rosie_Scope

Hi @rosewright71, welcome to the community. PIP shouldn't be affected by your living arrangements, it's just the means-tested benefits that take your living arrangements into account. Are you claiming any benefits at the moment?

From what I understand, these sorts of claims are looked at on a case-by-case basis.

A decision maker will look at the various bits of evidence and decide whether you are still living together as a couple according to their guidance. If they find that you're no longer living together as a couple you should be entitled to all the help you'd usually receive as a single claimant.

Council tax reductions are done at a local level, so the eligibility can vary. You might have to check with your council whether this is something you'd be eligible for.

Things that you have listed are all useful, like proof that you have separate bank accounts, buy food and cook separately.

There's a PDF here of the kind of things they consider when making a decision, it may be worth reading through just so you can get an idea: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7575a740f0b6397f35e96f/adme4.pdf

Hope you can get things sorted soon ☺️