In need of advice on Housing Benefit rules

thirdbar

I'd be really grateful for some pointers on this.

Basically, I graduated last year (I'm 24), moved away, am now working full time in London. I rent a room in a houseshare. As far as I'm concerned, that's where I live.

But I've been told that my mother's housing benefit has been cut off because I'm working! I don't even live with her (it would be quite a commute as she lives in Leeds). She's a pensioner, living in council housing.

Since people do grow up and leave home at some point, surely this has to be a mistake? Does anyone know why this might have happened? Is there any way she or I can get her housing benefit reinstated?

(Only it seems that, the only way she'd get it again is if I were to become unemployed and go live with her again... :mad:!!)

Blackpool_Saver

this post has to be another troll joke surely....

I apologise if it isn't but really...............

thirdbar

Excuse me, but it's not remotely. I just want some advice. There's no need to be rude.

karenx

Did your mum inform housing benefit that you were no longer living there when you moved out?

furndire

Are you still on the electoral list from your mums address?

Blackpool_Saver

thirdbar wrote: »

Excuse me, but it's not remotely. I just want some advice. There's no need to be rude.

I am not being rude, it just astounds me how an adult can think you can move out and nothing change, you have to inform benefit agencies of changes.....

Blackpool_Saver

see this is the problem, people don't inform anyone what they are doing, not electoral roll, not benefit offices etc etc and they wonder why they get in trouble........

OK OK, I am going sheesh............

thirdbar

karenx wrote: »

Did your mum inform housing benefit that you were no longer living there when you moved out?

I assume she did, but I must stress that's she's elderly and gets very muddled sometimes.

Last month they demanded two payslips from me (though I wasn't sure why). I sent those to her, and she only just told me over the phone about the loss of her housing benefit.

Sorry if my message wasn't very clear, I was a little panicked by all of this.

thirdbar

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

I am not being rude, it just astounds me how an adult can think you can move out and nothing change, you have to inform benefit agencies of changes.....

As far as I was concerned, it had nothing to do with me. I had nothing at all to do with any benefits (rather inexperienced, it's true) and have never claimed anything. I thought she received benefits as a pensioner in a council home - ergo unrelated to my occasional return home during university holidays.

I'm sure this is old hat to some but I've never once had to concern myself with benefits rules or anything like that, and none of the online literature seems to relate to this.

thirdbar

furndire wrote: »

Are you still on the electoral list from your mums address?

Actually, I think I must be. Would that make a difference?

Blackpool_Saver

thirdbar wrote: »

As far as I was concerned, it had nothing to do with me. I had nothing at all to do with any benefits (rather inexperienced, it's true) and have never claimed anything. I thought she received benefits as a pensioner in a council home - ergo unrelated to my occasional return home during university holidays.

I'm sure this is old hat to some but I've never once had to concern myself with benefits rules or anything like that, and none of the online literature seems to relate to this.

OK, point taken, but you are an adult and you yourself have said she gets muddled, perhaps you should have made sure she got it all sorted and not just left an elderly muddled person to flounder.

I suggest you get on the phone and tell the relevant agencies ALL the facts, don't leave it any longer or they may think the pair of you are failing to report changes.

Are you claiming anything where you are? and as another poster said where are you on the electoral roll as that is very important.
You can go on direct.gov for basic info on how benefits work and what constitutes a change, you need to avail yourself of this information so you can help your mother and educate yourself.