Housing benefit query

macawslave

I receive HB and single person discount on council tax. Would these be affected if my son, 28, is registered here, uses it as his postal address but only actually stays 1 or maybe 2 nights a week? Ive been told that someone has to stay more than 3 nights a week to be classed as living at an address.

fluffymovie

There is a common misconception that there are a number of nights that someone is allowed to stay before benefits are affected. THIS IS NOT TRUE. THERE ARE NO SET NUMBERS!!

If your son is not using this as his proper address, then you should be fine. In order to class someone as living with you, we would need to be satisfied that it is his main residence. If all his post comes to you, he stays sometimes and has no other main address, it may be considered that you are no longer the only adult occupying the address

dmg24

Is your son paying (or contributing to) CT elsewhere?

macawslave

Thank you for that info fluffymovie, very helpful.
You could possibly answer another query for me please, I asked a HB officer about this but didn't understand her reply, its likely that my son will be living with me when he starts at the local university in Sept (I will of course notify the local authority) she said something like my HB wouldn't be affected if we became joint tenants or if he became sole tenant and I just 'rented a room' - I cant remember which.
I don't want to fiddle anything its just that things are very tight, I cant work as I have ME, and I'm just trying to work out what to do for the best.

macawslave

I dont think he pays CT anywhere else as he either stays in digs or with friends as his work takes him around the country

Oldernotwiser

He won't be liable for CT when he becomes a full time student anyway.