Housing element Uc. I’m confused?!

dp267
dp267 Online Community Member Posts: 5 Listener
in Housing and independent living
Hi everyone,

so im confused about the housing element on UC?

trouble is I was in a gay couple and we both never claimed UC. anyway when we split up which was ages ago we were both still working. 

Now I don’t work. I had to do a Uc claim and for housing element and joint tenancy they asked me my relationship to the joint tenant so I said friend. Because even though split up we are friends. 

I spoke to welfare benefits for Salford and they said this is completely reasonable and fine. But I can’t help but thinking it’s wrong somehow?  

Was I meant to say ex partner? But we are friends? We’re 100% not a couple now. In fact, I have a new partner myself. 

Just wondering. I’m scared and confused 
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Comments

  • Alex_Alumni
    Alex_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,538 Championing
    Hello @dp267 I'm sorry to read how this has been playing on your mind, but I don't think there's any need to worry, as you say, you have moved onto a new relationship now :)

    It can be quite stressful having things turn over a lot in our minds, but talking about it helps. If you find spending time on the community helps, you're welcome to have a chat with other members over in the Coffee Lounge.

    Please know that even though it feels worrying and confusing, we are here to support you. I'm sure you're not alone in feeling confused about UC as well!

  • dp267
    dp267 Online Community Member Posts: 5 Listener
    Is this okay then? Should I have said he is an ex partner? 
  • Alex_Alumni
    Alex_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,538 Championing
    Yes that's fine @dp267, I think your claim would only be impacted if you are living with your current partner.
  • dp267
    dp267 Online Community Member Posts: 5 Listener
    The landlord won’t accept two payments for the rent though and the bills are all in his name! 

    Oh my god! Am I in trouble?!

    I mean I defo have a new partner and can verify this but I’m so worried. 
  • dp267p
    dp267p Online Community Member Posts: 69 Connected
    Hi

    Sorry I lost my account. I have to send my half to my friend yes because the estate agent won't accept two payments. Only one and it has to come out of one bank account.

    Is this bad for UC purposes?

    I am panicking.
  • dp267p
    dp267p Online Community Member Posts: 69 Connected
    Yes joint tenancy and joint council tax bill etc. I was told I have a discount for council tax but never tried for it yet. 
  • dp267p
    dp267p Online Community Member Posts: 69 Connected
    I’ve had mix opinions from welfare rights. Some of them say it’s fine to send money to him since I’m useless with money and can’t manage it. One lady said it could look weird. But how else can we do it? 

    Opening a joint bank looks worse 
  • dp267p
    dp267p Online Community Member Posts: 69 Connected
    Yeah I thought that. Then there’s the living together as if you’re married. What does that even mean?!
  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,005 Championing
    edited July 2022
    dp267p said:..Then there’s the living together as if you’re married. What does that even mean?!
    See
    https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/661551/adme4.pdf
  • dp267p
    dp267p Online Community Member Posts: 69 Connected
    calcotti said:
    dp267p said:..Then there’s the living together as if you’re married. What does that even mean?!
    See
    https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/661551/adme4.pdf
    Even reading that was confusing. 

    We’re definitely not a couple. He went on holiday for 10 days by himself recently and I was left alone here. 

    But I suppose UC don’t care if you’re having sex or not. 

    Am I breaking any rules then? I don’t want to get into trouble. 
  • dp267p
    dp267p Online Community Member Posts: 69 Connected
    Biblioklept said:
    There's guidance online but it's being a couple and living together like married so sharing costs, eating together, etc. If you're not a couple then you really don't need to worry
    Sharing what costs? etc

    I don’t think my name is on any of the energy bills. But then the broadband bill is in my name. This is really starting to worry me now. 
  • Alex_Alumni
    Alex_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,538 Championing
    edited July 2022
    There's no need to worry @dp267p try not to overthink this too much if you can. You are not going to get into trouble :) 

    Can you tell me what helps you most with anxiety and stress? Try and focus on that for now if you're able. 

    Even if you spend just 5 minutes looking out the window and really noticing the details, like the colours you can see, what you can hear, or smell, or focusing on your breathing. Anything that puts this worry to rest for a bit.

    Is there anyone you can talk to about how you're feeling, like your current partner? Do you have any support, such as a mental health team or your GP you can speak to about your anxiety at all?

    It might be worth taking a break from the screen for a bit as well, just to reset and relax. 

    You really aren't in trouble, remember you've done nothing wrong :)
  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,005 Championing
    Out of the link I posted earlier look at this from paragraph E4093
    To be treated as LTAMC the relationship has to be the same as that of a married couple. Marriage is where two people join together with the intention of sharing the rest of their lives. There is no single template of what the relationship of a married couple is. It is a stable partnership, not just based on economic dependency but also on an emotional relationship of lifetime commitment rather than one of convenience, friendship, companionship or the living together of lovers.
    None of this, from what you have posted, applies to you.

  • dp267p
    dp267p Online Community Member Posts: 69 Connected
    Does it matter how long you and your ex were together?
  • Alex_Alumni
    Alex_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,538 Championing
    As you're not with you're ex anymore @dp267p it doesn't matter how long you were together, no. 

    Does that make sense? :)
  • dp267p
    dp267p Online Community Member Posts: 69 Connected
    edited July 2022
    It does make sense yeah. 

    Someone said it could land me into trouble. As you’re meant to say the nature of relationship is ex partner. So they can come and assess you?

    I mean there’s two bedrooms and we have a bedroom each. Only shared facility is toilet/bathroom, kitchen and garden. Obviously the living room but living separate lives. 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 63,189 Championing
    You are worrying needlessly. You’re no longer in a relationship with them and are now seeing someone else. 
    You can live with someone and lead completely separate lives and still claim UC as a single person. 
    Please try to think of something else because as advised a few times, you ah e nothing to worry about. There’s nothing to report.
  • dp267p
    dp267p Online Community Member Posts: 69 Connected
    None of the energy or water bills are in my name though. 

    Does that matter? I won’t receive a payment from UC for this. 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 63,189 Championing
    It makes no difference. You are worrying needlessly.
  • dp267p
    dp267p Online Community Member Posts: 69 Connected
    I am still worried about this. Saw a case in the news where two women lived together but claiming as single. But they made joint claim for tax or something as a couple. 

    I know me and my ex partner are 100% not a couple. 

    But I think people love to twist and bend the truth if they could accuse you of something. 

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