Housing benefit rate if under 25 but living as a couple??

Ames

I eat expensively because I have ME and I'm limited by the amount of food prep I can do - I can't bulk cook and freeze, but here's what I eat, figures rounded up for ease, so it's actually probably a bit less.

Breakfast

Muesli, about £2 a bag, lasts at least a month 7p a day.
Milk, 2pt bottle a week 12p a day.

Lunch:
Wrap 13p
low fat own brand philadelphia 12p
salad leaves 14p

Dinner
Meat or fish, 80p
Veg, £1.50 a week: 7p
Potatoes 10p

Drinks
dilute squash, three cartons for £2, a carton a week: 10p

I also eat expensive fruit to make it up to my five a day, but you could throw in an apple or a banana for about 12p.

So that's £1.77 a day, and as I said I'm expensive.

hundredk

Angel89 wrote: »

Ah ok, thankyou very much giraffe and jowo..


Can i ask what proof do they require of you living as a couple though please?? :huh:


Is it for any couples, even if only one of them is actually named on the tenancy agreement contract??

And if you are a 'recent couple', who have only just moved into together that week/month,
and so previously as you were single occupant you got single occupant discount on council tax,
and so how likely is it that they will say ''we dis-believe you are a couple now'',
or, ''we need to see bills and bank statements of the other person going to that address before we will process your claim as a couple''??.


Sorry to always sound so pessimistic and worried,
its just i dont like havibg my life and health at any risk whatsoever,
and so i always make sure to cover all the possible bad scenarios inadvance so that i can ensure that theres no chance of them happening and damaging my life.

Why does it make a difference - wouldn't you just tell them the truth about your situation and that either qualifies you or not?

Or are you looking to change your situation to create a set of circumstances where you are eligiable for more than you would otherwise be entitled to?

hundredk

Angel89 wrote: »

The reason why i am getting extremely worried and may have to make a claim urgently is because i have 1day left of work on my rota, tomorrow night.

But then for next month im just not on the rota at all! :(

5 days later - what's the work situation like now?

hundredk

Angel89 wrote: »

Ok you tell me why exactly a single person who is under 25years old deserves to be paid nearly £400 less per month to help with their single occuupant property rent cost,
than someone who is over 25 gets??!! :mad:


If you can clearly explain and justify how that is fair and right then maybe i will start to think differently about just trying to get as much as someone,
whos is in the EXACT same situation as me, with only difference being that they are a few years older than me.

Arguing about whether it's right or wrong doesn't change your eligability does it?

MrsE_2

Angel89 wrote: »

Ok you tell me why exactly a single person who is under 25years old deserves to be paid nearly £400 less per month to help with their single occuupant property rent cost,
than someone who is over 25 gets??!! :mad:


If you can clearly explain and justify how that is fair and right then maybe i will start to think differently about just trying to get as much as someone,
whos is in the EXACT same situation as me, with only difference being that they are a few years older than me.

Because most young working (& student) adults accept that when they first leave home they will have to flat/house share.

Its not good enough for the DSS claimants then?

hundredk

Macro wrote: »

Well if you twist the situation enough, you may be able to convince yourself it's not fraud, but either way it's certainly not moral. You are using a child (and don't even argue that a 16-year old is not a child, she is) to gain access to a higher rate of benefits. I'd personally rather live in the gutter and retain my dignity and self respect than let myself sink so low. The system isn't very fair to under 25's, I agree, but that doesn't give you the right to commit fraud and use someone else in order to do so.

It's quite possible, by the way, that you could have your LHA payments topped up to meet/help meet your full rent in other (legal) ways.

Does that give entitlement to child benefit too?:rolleyes::whistle:

cunningfox_2

I think you would find life a lot tougher when you get caught out and have to pay all the benefits back along with an admin penalty and possibly a criminal record.

You are creating a situation in order to take advantage of the benefit system.

What reason do you feel you need a self contained property? Why can't you rent a room as many people (of all ages) do?

alwaysonthego_2

Board Guide comment

I am going to close this thread and refer it to the forum team, please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL] if you have any queries relating to this.