•Your partner and, in some cases, your children can be included in your means-tested benefit claim.

•You count as a member of a couple if you are married or in a civil partnership and are living with your partner in the same household. You also count as a couple if you are not married or in a civil partnership, but are living with your partner as if you were living together as a married couple.

•A child or ‘qualifying young person’ can be included as part of your family if you are responsible for her/him. S/he must also live in your household.

•You can continue to count as a couple, and children and young people can continue to be included in your means-tested benefit while you are living apart temporarily.