What are my options for housing and benefits? (Marriage ending, need to move out)

feelinggood_2

Hi all

Just wanted an idea of what my options are, and what I should do.

Looks like my marriage might be ending, so I need to arrange to move out. Currently in a rented house that is in my partners name.

Ideally, I'd like to move back to my hometown. Would I be able to claim LHA there if I've not lived there for 4 years?

What rate of LHA would I be able to claim? I'm under 25, but I have a baby. How does it work with private landlords now, do they know you are on LHA?

Could I apply for council housing? Would I be low priority? I have mental health problems.

I recieve IB (under youth rules, which makes it contribution based?) and lower rate DLA Care & Mobility. Do these affect other benefits?

When I register the birth, I'll get Child Benefit. When I seperate, I assume I could claim tax credits. Is there anything else I can claim?

I won't be recieving any child maintainance.

Any thoughts or advice welcome.

cattie

Sounds as if you've only just had your baby & pity you're likely to be finding yourself a single parent.

You mention you have mental health problems, do you see a cpn or psychiatrist? If so get them to refer you on to the mental health team in the area you are going to move to. Input from the CMHT can also help you with priority housing if you're deemed vulnerable, which with a new baby to care for & a relationship break up, you certainly will be.

IB & DLA do not affect any other benefits.

Each local authority has it's own allowable rent for private rentals & usually when you're under 25 it's the lowest rate as it's expected that an under 25 can live in a bedsit. As you have a baby it might be different for you. You can try looking up the website of the local authority in question & seeing what their Local housing allowance is.

If you live in an area, you can register for housing, irrispective of how long you've lived there.

I'm sure others will be along soon to answer your post in more depth than I can.

Good luck.

Oldernotwiser

Why won't you be receiving any child maintenance?

feelinggood_2

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Why won't you be receiving any child maintenance?

Complicated reasons.

feelinggood_2

cattie wrote: »

You mention you have mental health problems, do you see a cpn or psychiatrist? If so get them to refer you on to the mental health team in the area you are going to move to. Input from the CMHT can also help you with priority housing if you're deemed vulnerable, which with a new baby to care for & a relationship break up, you certainly will be.

I'm under the care of the CMHT here, so I'll give my Care Co-ordinator a call. Didn't realise they could help with anything like housing, would be good if they could.

I'm hoping I can claim LHA for a one bedroom place, otherwise it'll be difficult to make up the short fall. I really don't think I'd manage in a house share.

According to the Council I'd be under, I'd be eligble for LHA at the Two Bedroom rate, which sounds good but I'm not too hopeful. Is also a fair rate, so I would be able to get somewhere within walking distance of my parents.

Clare_1980

Hiya, I work in Housing Benefits. As you have a child, the under 25 lha rate wont apply to you, you will qualify for a 2 bedroomed lha rate. The best thing to do would be to check the rate on the council website for a 2 bedroomed rate in the area you want to move to. The majority of landlords are aware of lha rates, and charge rent according to what somebody can claim for the property. Its up to you whether you want to tell a potential landlord you're receiving housing benefit, but the scheme is intended to pay customers direct, so if you wanted them to pay your landlord you would have to explain your situation and they should agree to do it. Hope this helps, but if you want to know anything else just let me know x

Oldernotwiser

feelinggood wrote: »

Complicated reasons.

I didn't mean to pry but if you know who the father is, he should be making a contribution to his child.

FIASCO_2

Are you claiming tax credits just now? You can claim from the birth of your child. As soon as you have your child benefit number then contact child tax credits office 0845 300 3900 - tell them the date of your child's birth and your child benefit number. Ask them to backdate your child tax credits back to the date of the baby birth - maximum backdating permitted is 93 days. Tax credits will NOT automatically backdate for you, you have to request.
Before you move out get as much information as possible, it will be emotionally traumatic enough for you so the more practical details you have taken care of the better. Good luck.

catenorfolk

so may we ask what the complicated reasons are for not claiming child maintenance. If it is because the father is violent, you can still claim but it is just a slightly different way of doing so.

Teahfc

catenorfolk wrote: »

so may we ask what the complicated reasons are for not claiming child maintenance. If it is because the father is violent, you can still claim but it is just a slightly different way of doing so.

And that wil be one of the questions asked when you make a claim,so if you have some advice pre claim you will be in a better position.
Remember 95% of people who are on this site are out to help you

feelinggood_2

Me again!

Thought I'd ask another question.

How do cash gifts work with benefits?

OH wants to pay the deposit and upfront rental on a new place for me, how does that affect my benefits? I assume that'll count as income for Council Tax and LHA benefits? They'll ask me about that won't they? Is he allowed to do that when our relationship ends?

When the relationship ends, would he be able to be a guarantor so I can get a private rental? He wouldn't be supporting me anymore, and we wouldn't have any contact, so definitely wouldn't still be classed as partners?