Payment change

hadepsx

Hi,

I claim for my adult cohabitant (childrens mother) and my children on my claim. My adult cohabitant recieves half rate carers allowance for our youngest child, this rate is due to my claim for her as an adult dependent on my claim.

Our long relationship is now over, due to too many verbal arguements and drifting apart etc. I don't see a future together as a result.

My question is how long would it take for the mother to switch from her half rate carers to a full rate carers payment, and to switch the payments I receive for the four children over to her payment, away from my own individual payment.

Once this is done I plan on moving out, so she might also need to apply for lone parents payment, is that is allowed with full rate carers allowance? Obviously I will pay any maintanence required.

Please respond soon as the arguements are too much, both for myself and the children involved. I avoid talking to her as much as possible, as this just leads to more arguements.

I don't want the children to witness this, or to think it is a normal situation to be in. It is not, hence my decision. I feel it is best for everyone that I leave. I know some might think i'm a selfish fcuk but the atmosphere is terrible for everyone here, and the physchology of this situation is detrimental to my mental health.

Thanks in advance.

hadepsx

Anyone?

splinter65

hadepsx wrote: »

Anyone?

You need to write to whichever department pays you and tell them that you no longer want her to be considered as your dependent, or have the children considered as your dependents. At the same time she needs to write to Carers and tell them that she’s no longer your dependent and she wants to be considered for full time Carers.
When you leave she can apply for lone parent payment and she’ll get that and her Carers will revert to 1/2 rate.

RandomViewer

Think you'll have to move out first,

splinter65

RandomViewer wrote: »

Think you'll have to move out first,

He can give up his claim for her as his dependent and the kids without moving out. And she can then say she wants full Carers instead. But he would have to move before she’d be considered for lone parent.

hadepsx

Thanks everyone for your opinions so far, as you can see it's a bit of a messy and tricky situation.

lughildanach

It is a stressful and complicated situation. There are however a number of different options.

Whilst it is much easier to be treated as a single person if you leave, you can actually do it while still living under the same roof.

If your personal and financial lives are more or less separate, then you can ask the Department to treat you as separated. You would normally be subject of a Home Visit or interview with an Inspector. If the Inspector agrees that you are living separately under the same roof, they can assess you as if you are already separated. You can appeal the decision if they don't make the decision in your favour.

Of course, this all takes a lot of time, especially if you have to appeal. In many circumstances, physically separating is the best option, and makes things much easier to make separate claims.

If neither of you can move out, and you don't want the hassle of making a case of separation to the Department, you can still have two separate claims. This will slightly reduce the total amount of money you get, as you will lose the Adult Dependent rate from your Jobseekers, and the full-rate Carers that she will get will not fully make this difference up. The difference is about 20 euro. If you're prepared for that, you claim for yourself, and she claims the full-rate Carers. Any kids can be split between the two claims. Your means will be treated together for any means test, but at least you each have your own full payment, which can reduce friction.

You can also ask for separate payments on your Jobseekers claim. This involves the adult dependent and child portions of your Jobseekers payment being paid directly to her. Its still your claim, but she gets the money. You continue to get the personal rate (203) on your Jobseekers. This means you keep the additional money involved in the half-rate carers, and still each get a decent payment.

hadepsx

Thanks for that information, I really appreciate it.