Housing Benefit and sons compensation

loulindy

Can anyone help me? My sons was awarded compensation recently for a mis. carriage of justice. It was several thousand pounds. The problem we have got is that we are shortly going to be claiming housing benefit , We are getting child benefit for him as he is still classed as a dependent child as he is at college.

On the housing Benefit form they ask if he has any savings or investments, Im not sure what to put down. This money is HIS, he deserves every penny after everything he went through. I am not expecting a penny from him and wouldnt ask him.

I dont want to be accused of fraud, but do I terll the LA or not?

bunny999

Tell the truth - to not do so would be fraud which is a crime. Nobody is going to take the money away from your son.

Jowo_2

If he's in receipt of some money, and the form asks you to detail this, then detail it you must. The origin of the income is irrelevant.

loulindy

Thanks for all your replies, I know we have got to tell them, Im just worried that they will assume he is giving us any money, and if it will affect our claim for housing benefit. Lyn

bunny999

How much money has he got? Do you have any savings ?

[Deleted User]

AFAIK whilst you have to tell them about any savings he has they are only really interested if he has more than £3000 in savings

healy

bunny999 wrote: »

How much money has he got? Do you have any savings ?

There is another thread on this and it says it is over £30,000.

Jowo_2

Your housing benefit will be affected if you have a non-dependant living with you. Any adult son or daughter is considered to be a non-dependant.
A deduction is made to your maximum Housing Benefit for each non-dependant who lives with you. The amount of any deduction depends on the non-dependant's income. If they are under 25 and on income support, income related employment and support allowance, income-based job seeker's allowance (JSA), or if they are a full-time student, then no deduction is made.



http://www.disabilityalliance.org/f44.htm

This site also says nil deduction for students

http://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2106

Macro_3

Jowo wrote: »

Your housing benefit will be affected if you have a non-dependant living with you. Any adult son or daughter is considered to be a non-dependant.
A deduction is made to your maximum Housing Benefit for each non-dependant who lives with you. The amount of any deduction depends on the non-dependant's income. If they are under 25 and on income support, income related employment and support allowance, income-based job seeker's allowance (JSA), or if they are a full-time student, then no deduction is made.



http://www.disabilityalliance.org/f44.htm

This site also says nil deduction for students

http://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2106

He is currently a dependent, not a non-dep - they are in receipt of child benefit for him. As such, there will be no deduction and no effect on the claim as the money is clearly his.

When he becomes a non-dependent (when child ben ends), the interest he receives on his savings will affect the non-dependent deduction taken from your benefit. If he is in remunerative work, the average weekly interest gained will be added to his earned income and may increase the non-dep deduction. If he is not in remunerative work (16hrs or more), is a student there will be no effect on the deduction.

Note deductions for non-deps are only taken once the non-dep turns 18.