Does money from my Dad count as income?

jaydee121

I do not currently claim housing or tax credits but my aunty says I should as I only earn £250pw and my rent is £850 p month . I can only survive as my Dad pays half my rent for me. I thought i didn't qualify for tax credits or housing benefit because of the money my Dad gives me. But my Aunty says his money doesnt count in assessing my entitelment to tax credits or housing benefit. Does anyone know if I can claim?

scooby1001

Does your dad only pay half because you can't afford it other-wise? If the answer is yes then apply for housing/council tax benefit but not put done the money from your dad as income. How does he pay the money? Depending on if it is evident that someone else is paying as well for the rent it is up to you if you tell the housing department about his payments. Personally i would add a note to your application just explaining that your dad has helped you out because you can't afford it all without getting into debt and he can't afford to do it anymore. At least that way it does not look like you have tried to conseal anything.

[Deleted User]

Gifts from your family dont tend to count as income for any benefits as far as I am aware. I dont think this can be seen to be a regular source of income.

Tax Credits would not class this as income even though tax credits is means tested.

However if you were saving it and it was over the income limits £6k, £16k or whatever the limits are, then you would need to declare it to the appropriate people.

[Deleted User]

jaydee121 wrote: »

I do not currently claim housing or tax credits but my aunty says I should as I only earn £250pw and my rent is £850 p month . I can only survive as my Dad pays half my rent for me. I thought i didn't qualify for tax credits or housing benefit because of the money my Dad gives me. But my Aunty says his money doesnt count in assessing my entitelment to tax credits or housing benefit. Does anyone know if I can claim?

If you only earn £1000 a month and your rent is £850 I think they may well question how you have afforded to pay the rent so far,I do know that if this was an income support issue then the money from your dad would count as income,i suspect it maybe the same for h/b???after all it is a MEANS tested benefit

cw18

as others have said, if you're applying for a means tested benefit then they want to know about ALL income regardless of where it comes from.

I think the only way it wouldn't count is if your Dad's name were on the rent agreement with yours -- making you jointly liable -- but this would mean they'd only base a claim on your half and may cause confusion with Council Tax

saveallmymoney

Its not taxable income, it doesn't count.

cw18

I've been told by Job Centre Plus that if my parents help us out it WILL count as income, as it's money available to cover our bills and we therefore don't need as much from the benefits agencies (which actually makes logical sense)

Oldernotwiser

Why on earth would someone earning £1,000 per month rent a flat costing £850? More to the point, why should anyone in this situation get any help with the rent?

(That's not to say that she won't; nothing surprises me these days!)

ceridwen

cw18 wrote: »

I've been told by Job Centre Plus that if my parents help us out it WILL count as income, as it's money available to cover our bills and we therefore don't need as much from the benefits agencies (which actually makes logical sense)

..but then ...how would they know - as long as you got the money in cash?

- signed ceridwen

(who wouldnt normally advocate such things - but benefit is literally not enough to live on....)

Oldernotwiser

ceridwen wrote: »

..but then ...how would they know - as long as you got the money in cash?

- signed ceridwen

(who wouldnt normally advocate such things - but benefit is literally not enough to live on....)

And that's different from being paid cash in hand in what way precisely?

SomeBozo

ceridwen wrote: »

..but then ...how would they know - as long as you got the money in cash?

- signed ceridwen

(who wouldnt normally advocate such things - but benefit is literally not enough to live on....)

ceridwen

Again, in less than 24 hours I find myself recoiling at the advice you have given.

To break that down, are you suggesting that just because you cash is involved that the tax man (whether given or received) is not interested.

Please check your responses before suggesting fraud to a poster in a unsustainable position! :mad:

To clarify, all income (whether be gifts, cash or cheque) is assessed in a household for benefits.

Bozo