War pension/compensation/benefits

[yecats2885]

Hi I'm a 26 years old single mum to a 2 year old boy I'm a full time student . I currently receive. 60 child tax credit, 65 Income support, 20 child benefit, 10 maintenance and full rent and council tax. Equivalent to 110 per week. My boyfriend who is not my child's father is 23 he was md from the army after losing half his hearing and injured his back on the front line in afghan. He gets 200 ESA and 100 per week plus an army war/dismemberment pension of 1032 per month. He also had a 50k payout from the army for his back and ears which he has in a bond. He lives in a rough area with his mum n is constantly having things stolen . I live in a lovely area and would be more than happy to have him move in with me . He also has PTSD and bi-polar which have been triggered by the army so he really cannot live alone. What fI'm wondering is what are the implications of having him move in with me Financially as I don't expect to live off him or touch his money he earned that serving his country. He is obviously happy to contribute but will I be left with no money myself?? Before anyone starts with the abuse I'm a full time student retraining to be a social worker will start UNi next sept

[yecats2885]

*100 dla

[ummmm]

You will be judged as a couple.

[yecats2885]

Yeah I know that but do they count an army dismemberment pension as income and capital he has through a dismemberment payout?

[factor-fiction]

Hi yecats- I'm confused by the figures. What do you mean by "Equivalent to 110 per week", as the figures you list add up to a lot more than that?

[factor-fiction]

The pension will count as income as that is what it is. As for the bond I would have thought that counts as savings unless it is in a form where he can't touch the money for a set period- so do you know what the terms of the bond are?

[daffy654]

I read it as the rent and council tax benefit equals £110.00 per week.

[cathfromsaron]

you need to contact the social security and local council by phone and ask for a speculative inquiry ... they can then work out what you would get hypothetically!

as a full time student, why don't you get a loan, grant or bursary?

also, do you want someone who has PTSD and other needs moving in with your young son? why not live nearer each other first and see how he recovers?

[factor-fiction]

That sounds likely daffy- I did wonder that but the punctuation suggested differently

[daffy654]

Has the law changed recently concerning being a student and claiming benefits? I know when my sister (single parent) was a full time student several years ago she was prosecuted for claiming benefits at the same time.

[yecats2885]

I'm only at college not uni so I get help with child care costs although not needed as family help and travel costs hel. No grants or anything until I go to uni. Yes sorry rent and council tax equates to £110 per week. I don't see how someone having bi polar or PTSD would automatically become a threat to either myself or my son and given the field I am pursuing a career in is social work would mean I have an understanding of it. Just because someone has mental health issues doesn't mean they are incapable of having a loving committed relationship . I've had cheats and men who think they can rule the roost with their fist and my fella is nothing like that x

[icemaiden]

Ring up the tax credit helpline hun. They are extremely helpful.

I suspect they will class you as a couple so it will be a joint claim. You can give them all your details and all income details and then they will work out what you will receive.

Good luck with your training yecats2885.
xx

[themas]

You say he is your boy friend so I assume you would be co-habiting. Therefore you will be treated as a couple for all benefits & tax credits.

If the pension is a war disablement pension it will be taken into account as income except for the first £10 per week. The £50K will be treated as capital (& so disqualify you both from any means tested benefits - but not tax credits) unless it is already in a certain type of trust where he cannot have automatic access to the money. I'm not sure what you mean by a bond, but if it is in an ordinary bond it can presumably be accessed so will be treated as capital.

Your circumstances (& your boy friend's) are too complex for you to get any reliable answers here. I suggest you get full details of all your & your boy friend's circumstances - including the paperwork - & go to your local CAB to see a welfare benefits adviser. There is no point in ringing the tax credit office - they only deal with tax credits & your issues are far wider than that.