TCTM09346 | Decision Making, Joint or Single claims, Considerations when deciding if two people should be treated as a couple: Dependent children

Two people having joint responsibility for a child or children may indicate they are living together as husband and wife (LTAHAW) or as civil partners (LTACP). Relevant factors to consider include:

• the parentage of the child or children

• whether, and how, the two people exercise joint responsibility, for example

• who visits the school or delivers/collects the child or children from the school

• who would the school contact in an emergency

• who arranges dental and medical appointments for the child or children and takes them to their appointments

• who exercises control of or offers guidance to the child or children

• who provides financial support, pocket money or pays for treats

• who buys the clothes and/or the toys

Note: this indicator should not be used in isolation as all factors should be considered as outlined in TCTM09341.