Don't know what to do!!!

penguin123_2

Hello everyone.
What a great site this is. :rotfl:Ok I have abit of a difficult situation. I am a single mother with a 7 year old child living in a 2 bedroom private rented house and in receipt of income support and housing benefit. Some time ago for personal reasons, my father became homeless so I asked him to come and stay with me while he tried to find suitable place to live. Anyway he is disabled and receives DLA at the higher mobility rate including care rate and income support. I notifyed all the necesssary government departments that he was staying here and they are fine about it however it's been quite a few months now and he's been sleeping on the sofa since then which obviously is not good for him as I only have2 bedroom. He has tried to find a place to live but unsuccessful so far, presumably because of his disability/age so my question is I have managed to find another private rented 3 bedroomed house where we could all live together but my concern is how this would affect my housing benefit. Currently my rent is £475 a month and I get housing benefit of £408 a month, the house I'm looking at is £575 a month so can anyone tell me assuming the property rent is what the council would accept for this type of property in my area do you think they would award me full housing benefit or would I have to pay a larger sum than I am already paying? as I've already said my father receives DLA and income support.

I would be greatful for any help or pointers with this matter. I know that some of you will suggest that I get a pre tenancy rent assessment form and submit it to the council but I don't want to go down this road as I will have to inform the landlord that I'm in receipt of housing benefit which doesn't go down well with some landlords.

Penguin123 :rolleyes:

Oldernotwiser

If you can divide the tenancy in some way, your father would be eligible for LHA(HB) in his own right, which would cover the difference in costs.

Damzel_In_Distress

it is all dependant on area...where abouts are you??

in my area (and indeed in most) the maximum housing benefit you can receive is £450 a month

there is a such a thing as discretionary housing payments to top it up,but you have literally got the be crying poverty every hour of everyday for them to even consider giving it you...

Also you said you didnt want to inform the landlord your in reciept of housing benefit?...you cant do that..for housing benefit you have to show a tenancy agreement and the landlord and coucil office have to sign the paperwork when moving or renting with housing benefit...maybe they didnt when you first started claiming but its all changed now and you cant not tell a new landlord that your going to be paying him by housing benefit...im sure there is some sort of rule..and the council will want to speak to him if problems ever came up etc...

munchings-n-crunchings

Hello Penguin123,

I would pay a visit to your housing benefits office, they will be able to work out the figures for you, and you can discuss the different options with them.
If you have a claim with your father included, there will be a 'Disability Premium' that will be added to you HB claim, that will give you a higher allowance.
You may also be able to claim Carer's Allowance for looking after your dad, although I would check how this would affect other benefits.

Good Luck,

Munchie

Jo_R_2

Damzel_In_Distress wrote: »

Also you said you didnt want to inform the landlord your in reciept of housing benefit?...you cant do that..for housing benefit you have to show a tenancy agreement and the landlord and coucil office have to sign the paperwork when moving or renting with housing benefit...maybe they didnt when you first started claiming but its all changed now and you cant not tell a new landlord that your going to be paying him by housing benefit...im sure there is some sort of rule..and the council will want to speak to him if problems ever came up etc...

I certainly claimed HB without the knowledge of my landlord last year. The form specifically asked if I consented to the council contacting my landlord with regard ot the claim and I said no.

At the end of the claim last September, they did send me a new form if I should need to claim again, and it did ask for consent about contacting the landlord again. So it could be an area-by-area rule but certainly isn't the case everywhere.

yorkshire_grafter

Hi

Make an appointment to see a Housing Benefit advisor at your Local Authority. Take your dad along and ask them to calculate your claim 2 ways:-

1. You has the main claimant with your dad has a non dependant (your name would have to be on the tenancy agreement)
or
2. You claiming has a joint tenant with your dad (both your names on the tenancy agreement).

There is a 3rd option with your dad has the claimant and you as a non dependant (the tenancy would have to be in your dad's name). The only problem here is if you fell out you would have to leave.

There is no maximum LHA(HB) rate it is only dependant on your circumstances. You need what is called a 3 room rate - 1 for yourself, 1 for your child and 1 for your father.

The LL does not need to know that you are in receipt of HB - it is not a condition for you to claim benefit.

With regard to your current circumstances have you informed the LA how long your dad has been with you? Usually they will ignore someone staying for a short time but this looks like your dad's home and is he claiming benefit himself from your address? They will amend your LHA rate from a 2 room rate to a 3 room rate but there will be a non dependant deduction.

Sorry it's so long winded
Good luck

Oldernotwiser

Damzel_In_Distress wrote: »

it is all dependant on area...where abouts are you??

in my area (and indeed in most) the maximum housing benefit you can receive is £450 a month

there is a such a thing as discretionary housing payments to top it up,but you have literally got the be crying poverty every hour of everyday for them to even consider giving it you...

Also you said you didnt want to inform the landlord your in reciept of housing benefit?...you cant do that..for housing benefit you have to show a tenancy agreement and the landlord and coucil office have to sign the paperwork when moving or renting with housing benefit...maybe they didnt when you first started claiming but its all changed now and you cant not tell a new landlord that your going to be paying him by housing benefit...im sure there is some sort of rule..and the council will want to speak to him if problems ever came up etc...

This is so totally wrong that I can't believe it! LHA ( NOT HB!) varies from LEA to LEA and in some areas in the south east can be well over £1,000 a month! As for the landlord having to sign any paperwork, that's absolute c***!

Please stop misinforming people based solely on your own experiences!

Ditzy_2

yorkshire_grafter wrote: »

Hi

Make an appointment to see a Housing Benefit advisor at your Local Authority. Take your dad along and ask them to calculate your claim 2 ways:-

1. You has the main claimant with your dad has a non dependant (your name would have to be on the tenancy agreement)
or
2. You claiming has a joint tenant with your dad (both your names on the tenancy agreement).

There is a 3rd option with your dad has the claimant and you as a non dependant (the tenancy would have to be in your dad's name). The only problem here is if you fell out you would have to leave.

There is no maximum LHA(HB) rate it is only dependant on your circumstances. You need what is called a 3 room rate - 1 for yourself, 1 for your child and 1 for your father.

The LL does not need to know that you are in receipt of HB - it is not a condition for you to claim benefit.

With regard to your current circumstances have you informed the LA how long your dad has been with you? Usually they will ignore someone staying for a short time but this looks like your dad's home and is he claiming benefit himself from your address? They will amend your LHA rate from a 2 room rate to a 3 room rate but there will be a non dependant deduction.

Sorry it's so long winded
Good luck

I agree with this - make your dad the main clmt and you as ND (non dependant) apply the disability premium.