nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

We want to hear from you: please tell us about your experience of the online community.

Hypothetical question re uc

janer1967

Hi to the benefits gurus

This is a hypothetical question so don't get excited it isn't happening but just curious and it may help others

I am on uc what would happen if I got married but we didn't live together (strange I know )

Would we be treated as a couple for uc .

My partner works away most of week he has his own house and stays there as well as being liable for all bills there etc

He stays at mine 1 or 2 nights a week

I know this doesn't affect my uc currently but if we married but had the same living arrangement would this change my uc claim

Due to his earnings I know I would lose uc if we lived together but just curious to know how it would work if we married but didn't live together

Thanks for any insight

Find more posts tagged with

Comments

calcotti

If you are married but not living together then you are not, in my opinion, living together as a married couple and should still be able to receive UC as single claimants. That would be clear for people who choose to keep separate households and separate finances. You are not sharing a household and therefore cannot be living together as a married couple. To be a couple you have to be considered to be 'members of the same household'.
Have a look at
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/661551/adme4.pdf

Where the separation is due to work then the separation may be considered temporary and you could be treated as being a couple.

janer1967

Thanks for that @calcotti

Bit complicated as it talks about can be seen as couple if long term commitment being faithful , public knowledge etc which would all be associated with marriage

But interesting read thanks

calcotti

But note:

E4002 “Couple” means
two people who are married to, or civil partners of, each other and are
members of the same household or
two people who are not married to, or civil partners of, each other but are
LTAMC.

If you are not members of the same household you are not a couple even if married.

If someone is temporarily absent is whether or not they remain members of these household.

I think, in your case, if you have never lived together even if you got married it would be difficult for DWP to determine that you are members of the same household.

janer1967

The reason we don't live together isn't down to him working away

He owns his own house and lives with his son if he isn't working away he would stay there majority of time

We both like our own space also keeping his house as investment till he retires to then sell and buy abroad

We have completely seperate finances and neither of us contribute to the other ones living expenses

On a personal note I can't see the point of us getting married if we are not going to live together

The plan is to move abroad and live together when he retires

@Biblioklept not had proposal as such but he has asked few questions on my thoughts on the topic which I have said I wouldn't get married again

calcotti

janer1967 said:

The reason we don't live together isn't down to him working away

He owns his own house and lives with his son if he isn't working away he would stay there majority of time

We both like our own space also keeping his house as investment till he retires to then sell and buy abroad

We have completely seperate finances and neither of us contribute to the other ones living expenses

In that case you will not be a couple for UC even if married.

janer1967 said:

The plan is to move abroad and live together when he retires

Obviously not so easy now since leaving EU but good luck with that when the time comes.

janer1967

Thanks @calcotti for all your help

Better not show him this or he might get down on one knee 😤

dp267p

Just curious about the separate finances bit:

what happens if you’re sending each other money for things like food and films when you spend time together. Even though you have separate houses, bills etc and lives?

does that look bad?

Alex_Alumni

I think splitting bills for food and films etc., is something that happens in a lot of relationships and friendships @dp267p, and it is not something the DWP will be worried about or looking for.

Does that make sense?

dp267p

Yeah I see what you mean. I mean generally in case they think your partner is financially supporting you. I am paranoid about accusations.

poppy123456

dp267p said:

Yeah I see what you mean. I mean generally in case they think your partner is financially supporting you. I am paranoid about accusations.

You can have a partner but not live together. You can also live with another person and not be in a relationship. None of those will affect the benefits you're entitled to.

SueHeath

@Sandy_123 @Sandy_123 @Sandy_123 have you seen this from @janer1967

I've never been a Brides Maid have you ????? xxxxx

Sandy_123

Lol Sue no never been bridesmaid been matron of honour once. Shall we put our names on guest list

SueHeath

Yep deff if we play our cards right we could make a weekend of it @Sandy_123 ha ha xx

Sandy_123

Yeah get the train at new street, sorted

janer1967

@SueHeath @Sandy_123
Took you both a long time to find this lol

Don't book the train tickets for at least 10 years by time it's likely it will be.space travel not trains lol

Also if it was to happen we would just jet off somewhere and do no fuss lol

Sandy_123

But we bought hats

janer1967

@Sandy_123 they will come in for ladies day at the races x

SueHeath

I'm Sorry upset tonight @janer1967 bbbbbooooooooooooooooo hhhooooooooooooooooooo xxx

Sandy_123

Haha shall we all go there instead

L_Volunteer

Hello all! How are we all doing today? I hope we are all well. If anyone needs anything though, we are all here for you