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Ex husband lodging with me???

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kloofnek | 23:44 Thu 08th Mar 2012 | Personal Finance
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My husband and I have lived apart for twenty years now but have remained friends ,we have children and grandchildren ,so have always managed to be amicable...we just could not live together.
He has been living with friends for a number of years but they now plan to retire to Cyprus... although he still works part-time,he is now nearly 70...the family feel he should not got to live in new lodgings with strangers or be on his own...the children do not have the room..but I do.
BUt I am wondering how this will affect me financially..I do know because I am in receipt of Disability Living Allowance,it will not affect my HB/CT but part of my Pension Credit will be deducted..have looked into this a while back when my son wanted to move in..he didn`t in the end.
But as this is my EX (sort of),would this be looked on differently...I do not want to be classed as living with him as man and wife...as we would not be,want to keepmy benefits as my own
He would be a lodger so to speak.
Does anyone know how this situation would be looked on????
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If you are not actually divorced then in the eyes of the law you are still a couple, name change does not matter. If he does come and live in your house for benefit purposes you are a couple and nothing can change that unless he moves out again.
Pension credit for a couple is £203 a week . If you get ANY pension credit even 1p a week ! you also get the maximum possible...
03:16 Sat 10th Mar 2012
where do you live, kloofnek? The law may vary from country to country.
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In the UK
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North West England
I would say that the fact he is an ex husband should not matter, he should be treated as an 'Adult Non Dependant' or lodger .You will lose the single occupant deduction in council tax so that will go up by 25%. The best people to advise you are the local CAB they are very good for this sort of problem and will advise you about how your benefits will be effected.
It is likely to affect your benefits as a logder would be expected to contribute to the cost of running a house but am I right to assume you're not divorced?

I'm not sure it makes much difference to the finances whether you're two individuals or a couple, but it wouldn't be fun to spend time trying to prove you're not in a relationship. I think the best thing is to ask CAB.
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I have spoken to Age UK and they can sort it all out for me if he should come to reside with me.
I did put a post a while back when my son wanted to move in where I had been to my local Link( the local council`s offices where they sort everything out or where one can pay their CT) to enquire.
They told me that nothing would be changed,HB/CT with my being in receipt of DLA,I was quite stunned at the time...I had not mentioned about this but of course it came up on their system and that is when she told me this.
So then I checked with Age UK ,I thought the Link must have got it wrong...but no it is correct.Even though my son is working!!!

Naturally there would be no single occupant CT discount but this will not affect me in my case.

One has to check all these things out carefully so as not to fall into a "trap".

A friend of my did ,for a different reason ,and ended up worse off.

No we are not divorced.
you have to tread very carefully as you are still legally a couple...different to a son moving in...in the eyes of the benefit system you ARE a couple and this WILL affect your benefit status.
the family feel he should not got to live in new lodgings with strangers or be on his own

How do YOU feel about it?? (Ignore me, I'm nosy)

It's my understanding that DLA is not 'means tested' so that benefit should not be affected if he moves in.
HB and CT IS means tested....and a legal spouse is expected to support his wife...his income and presence WILL matter....you need to consult the local housing dept for clear affirmation on this matter..DO NOT rely on what third party agents tell you...I speak as an ex ben manager who had to mop up all manner of messes generated byw ell meaning agents who did not know enough about the WHOLE benefit structure to give advice..
Just seen your post that you are not divorced . I this case you will be regarded as couple and all benefits will be assessed on your joint income.
Daft I know, but it is virtually certain that as a couple you will be better off if he gives up his part time job and you claim Pension credit as a couple . It is just over £203 a week as a couple and you automatically get maximum possible Housing and council tax benefit .
There is no way you can claim as 2 single people if you are still legally married no matter what type of relationship you have. For example a huge number of married couples live seperate lives under 1 roof but for benefit & legal purposes they are still a couple.
As I said before your DLA will not be effected , but if you get the care componant of DLA at the higher or middle rate your husband can claim claim carers allowance for looking after you, it is automatically awarded if the person being cared for is on middle or higher rate DLA care. It is £55.55 a week. The carers allowance can be paid into the carers bank account or the account of the person being cared for.
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Beginning to think I may not bother...I really don`t mind his coming to live with me as there is plenty of room,he can have a bedroom and sitting room to himself.Also,I would feel happier knowing there is someone else in the house as i am now. wary of having more accidents in the house,have had a few in the past.One of my daughters lives a few doors away but not that same as someone actually being in the house.
Will look into this some more.
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By the way,I changed my name by deed poll some years back,so we do not share the name same.
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Would they ask for divorce papers etc.
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back again...so many questions...this carers allowance Eddie51 mentions...we would get the £203 weekly plus the £55 odd weekly Carers allowance.plus HB/CT allowance????
if you can't live together, what makes you think you can now? You are both still the same people aren't you?
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We are much older now and each of us has made separate lives and each have our own interests...can`t explain but it would work.
fair enough - i would just hate to think of you miserable and not beign able to chuck him out owing to loyalty
If you are not actually divorced then in the eyes of the law you are still a couple, name change does not matter. If he does come and live in your house for benefit purposes you are a couple and nothing can change that unless he moves out again.
Pension credit for a couple is £203 a week . If you get ANY pension credit even 1p a week ! you also get the maximum possible housing and council tax benefit. Any income you have is deducted from the pension credit, so if your husband moved back in and you claimed pension credit as a couple they would deduct his wages from it. That is why I said you are better off by him giving up work
If you get DLA that will continue , it is not effected by Pension credit. If the care componant of your DLA is at the higher or middle rate ( there are 3 rates higher, middle and lower) then you automatically can nominate someone as your carer. This person gets £55.55 a week carers allowance . My wife gets DLA at the middle rate so I get £55,55 carers allowance.
Like I said, as you have never divorced your ex he CAN NOT be treated as a lodger , it is claim as a couple or nothing.
In reality he can live at the same address and have his own room and living area , he and you need never meet or cross paths but unless you divorce him you are a couple in the eyes of the law if you live at the same address.
The local CAB are the people to help you, they know the law and housing rules insideout and backwards ( better than the council housing dept in most cases !)
Would it work, doubt it kloofnek.

Maybe for a few weeks but when you are on top of each other in a small environment I think it will bring back memories of why you separated in the first place!

Would you both have your own space and separate bathrooms which I think would be very important and would he be paying rent to help with the bills etc?
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trt,yes his own living room and bedroom,tele V+ box...the lot!!!!!He would get his own food and give me a something towards gas and electric.
Eddie51..you say £203 PC,is that in top of his State Pension ...that is ,he would get his State Pension as well? Would I still get my State Pension?
Mine is very small and his is a bit higher,not worked in the UK to qualify for full.Carer`s Allowance...I have been reading the Fact sheet online and there are all sorts of restrictions.If he is working it is a no no...if earning more than a £100 a week,if one gets SP.
Also,if I get HB,CT benefit and PC,they will be stopped if he gets Carer`s allowance whether he is working or not.

This is sooo complicated.
Might I ask what your exact situation is...if you don`t mind..if you do,I understand.

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