Need some advice please - RE housing benefit

marko2002

Until around 2 years ago I worked full time since I basically left school. At that time a few things happened, the first was I was made redundant from my job and the second my wife was diagnosed after many years of illness.

Her illness affects her mobility and well-being and although I was still actively seeking work at that point I was advised to claim carers allowance because the job centre realised I was struggling with hospital appointments, signing on, looking for work and so forth. I did, and have been claiming since as my wife's condition has worsened.

We are in receipt of DLA, Incapacity Benefit and Income Support. Income Support amounts to nothing basically because we are paying back a social fund loan after we had to purchase a bed for my wife and enquiring about a grant just led to red tape after red tape.

If it's not bad enough we have to survive now on benefits after a long working career I am now faced with a moral dilemma. My 16 year old son decided he was leaving school last Christmas to seek employment against our wishes, we wanted him to go on to college or University as we knew what the situation was like for jobs but he decided he wanted out there to work which I must admit I was kinda proud of. Now, because he has just managed to secure a full time apprenticeship and get's around £140 per week the following will happen.

1. We'll loose child tax credits for him, we knew that anyway and although it's a lot to loose we would rather he worked as we both did before my wife's illness.
2. We'll loose child benefit, again we knew that also so no probs there.
3. We now know that we will have to pay rent and council tax because our son is working, the exact amount of which we're still unsure about, but it's been suggested on his wage it may be the full amount which is over £300 per month.

Potentially, after the loss of his benefits and the addition of paying housing benefit and council tax we're looking at being something like £600 per month worse off!. £200 p/m roughly lost in child tax credits, £80 p/m roughly for child benefit and the additional cost of £300 per month for rent.

Can this be the case?

The problem I have is obviously everyone is expected to contribute to the system and if someone is working they must take the responsibility but my issue is actually loosing that amount of money each month, basically we couldn't afford it and I'm beginning to think I will be forced to get back into employment at the cost of my wife's well-being. I could, of course, arrange for my wife to be cared for through the social work but surely that's a false economy as this would then mean the state paying out for a full time carer?.

I'm having a moral dilemma with all of this at the moment, and I know some will say it's just tough, but I would work at the drop of a hat, I did since I left school, but my wife's health and well-being have to come first and because of this and the fact my son wants to work for a living rather than bum around it would appear we're about to be nailed to the wall?!.

If anyone can steer me regarding this I'd really appreciate it.
Thanks in advance
Marko

Wee_Willy_Harris

For LHA, your son becomes a non dependant and is expected to make a contribution towards the rent and C tax depending on his income. On a £140 a week, this deduction should be around £20 out of your LHA/Ctax awards per week.

C_Mababejive

Considering your sons small income,it seems like quite a drop.

Have you had expert advice on this? Not professing any expertise..just sounds weird.

Jowo_2

Work through the Entitled to website to understand the impact of your son becoming a non-dependent. This will give you an idea of reduction in LHA before you speak to the local council dealing with your claim.

Don't fret over people's expectations and prejudices over benefit claimants. The best quote I've heard on this topic is 'only worry about the things you can control'.

Remember to factor in any contribution from your son towards his keep as you have understandably focussed on the losses but not on the fact that the govt have deemed that the greatest child rearing expenses are over (hence loss of CB/CTC) and he can contribute towards the household budget towards the council tax, rent, food and bills that you have to pay.

marko2002

Hi Willy, thanks for the response, if that is the case it's not as bad as I thought then initially, we do plan to take dig money from him as we always told him this would be the case but we knew we could only take a reasonable amount and the fact he's working he shouldn't be expected to make up what we loose, if that were the case I'm sure he would soon get fed up of working for little reward each week, god knows I've been in a few jobs to basically break even each month but that's beside the point. I'm obviously going to have to inform our LHA but wanted to get a rough idea of what to expect beforehand, hate nasty surprises!.
Thanks again
Marko

marko2002

Thanks for the other replies guys, I'd actually never heard of the "Entitled to" website before but I'll give that a bash and see what the results are
Cheers
Marko

Robbie64

If your son is aged under 18 (which I'm guessing is the case?) then there will be no non-dependent deductions to be made from either your Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit regardless of his income. Deductions only apply where the non dependent is aged 18 or over.

marko2002

Robbie, if that is the case I'd be really relieved, I'll obviously post back once I've approached our local housing authority and let everyone know what the situation is
Cheers
Marko

marko2002

Just in case anyone else is in this same situation, I found the following page which explains the situation I'm in in greater detail - and yes, it would appear you're correct Robbie: http://www.bournemouth.gov.uk/Residents/CouncilTax/Benefits/Housing/Non_dependants.asp

This is a page from Bournemouth council although I anticipate it being similar throughout the UK
Cheers
Marko

GEEGEE8

Excellent news I hope it makes it easier for you x

baza52

my wife is on HRC and LRM and we have a 21yo son that works full time and an 18yo daughter also working full time.
We still get 100% of rent and council tax paid.