Getting married but living apart on UC

Margowobble · February 7

Hello,

Could I ask advise please.

My partner and I want to get married to make that ultimate commitment to eachother but we don’t want to live together.

We both in our mid 50s and settled in separate home lives and want this to continue.

My partner lives alone 20 miles away and I live with my adult daughter who helps me with my care.

I receive Uc with the illness and housing parts added and don’t need to attend any work related activities as chronically ill.

Will getting married ( but still living separately) affect my benefits in any way?

Thank you in advance.

WhatThe · February 8

Bump

Rosie_Scope · February 9

Hi @Margowobble, welcome to the community. Usually, if you're living apart this shouldn't affect your benefits, especially if you're financially separate. You're usually seen as independent households which should mean you're able to continue claiming as usual.

Are you quite financially independent from your partner? For example, do you have any joint accounts or share funds in any way?

Emilee · February 9

Being married but not living together normally won’t affect Universal Credit by itself.

For Universal Credit purposes, what matters is whether you are living together “as a couple” in the same household. If you’re married but genuinely living apart and not sharing a household, then UC doesn’t treat you as a joint claim and you can stay on your claim as a single person.

They may ask questions to check your living situation but that's just to make sure the claim information is correct.

If at any point you do start living together as a couple, then you would need to tell UC and usually make a joint claim at that time.

Margowobble · February 9

Hello

Thanks for the response.

No, we don’t share any finances or anything.
he has his house and I’ve mine and will not ever live together.

I share my bills with my daughter.

I see see him at the weekends, sometimes for 1 night sometimes 2 depending on my health and mobility at the time.

At our age we’re very much settled in our ways.

He also has ocd and some other mental health issues which makes it impossible for him to deal with my health needs as they can be very clinical at times and triggers him.

He’s also on the spectrum and can e manic with raging at times.

My daughter has mental health issues, depression and anxiety and is classed as a vulnerable adult also needing verbal support when she’s feeling overcome which is usually daily.

She needs a calm safe quiet place to calm down.

So the two clash.

Our lives are very complex hence the need to live separately.

The marriage is the best we can do in our situation to affirm our commitment and love for each other witnessed by God in church which is very important t to us as we’re are both religious.

Thank you

Margowobble · February 9

Ps- when the time comes what wording should I use to tell Dwp about the marriage ?

Thanks

Emilee · February 9

You would only need to tell them if you are changing your name. You can tell them either way but if you are continuing to live apart you do not have to. If you do decide to tell them, just be very factual. Let them know that you recently got married but you and your husband are not living together and do not intend to.

Margowobble · February 9

thank you

Getting married but living apart on UC

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