advice needed

questionandanswers

Ok this is going to be a bit complicated to explain so please bear with me.

I am pregnant and not currently working (and yes I am keeping it and yes all our options have been thought about). At the moment I am on Income Support and DLA, I also have my rent and council tax paid. I currently live with a housemate.

My boyfriend lives at home and works for his dad. As it is a small family business and he still lives in the family home he is on a very low wage (below minimum wage). A few years ago the business has some trouble and my boyfriend got out a loan for his dad to help the business. He also put some things on a credit card for the business. His dad is paying off the loan and credit card which come out of my boyfriends accounts.

As I am now pregnant the plan is to move in together. My boyfriend's work hours will have to be cut as his dad can't afford to pay him minimum wage at the moment (he would if it wasn't for the loans). My boyfriend does plan to get another job to help support me and the baby but with the current situation it might not happen as soon as we would like.

We have looked into what help we would get for the time being but we are concerned about the fact my boyfriend has a large loan and money from his dad going in to cover it. When apply for benefits such as housing benefit would they class his as income? The loan plus credit card which is dad pays is approx. £600 so when you look at my boyfriends accounts it looks like he is getting that every month. However this money is simply to pay off the loans and credit card. My boyfriend doesn't gain from this at all. The loans and repayments are all logged in the business accounts and books.

Can anyone advice on whether this loan and the money my boyfriend dad gives my boyfriend to pay it would be classed as income and could effect our claim?

I hope all that makes sense!

Thanks

FactualGnome

Yes it would be classed as income even if it leaves straight away!

questionandanswers

even if it isn't my boyfriends money?

FactualGnome

Technically it is his money as its being paid to him, Can you not get his dad to pay directly to the lender? that would stop it from being counted?

questionandanswers

that is an option we are going to have to look into but would the fact he has a loan in his name and when looking into his account he would have no means to pay it look a bit suss?

I read the thread about bank account snooping and therefore if they snooped into his account they would be aware he has a loan and for the last 7 years has been receiving money into his account to pay it.

FactualGnome

I'm sure his dad paying it direct isnt illegal?

i would speak to the housing or welfare rights and see what they say

hope this helps

UnderPressure

If it were me and I can only offer that opinion, I would simply ring the credit card comapny and the loan company and tell them both I needed to give them some new bank account details for payments, the I woul give the dads bank details for any future payments.

TBH and take this with a pich of salt but again is my opinion, I would not even mention this to the housing people as long as the money will not be going into his account in future they cannot count it as income, what a lot have people have foind readin these boards is that sometimes sharing what is really un-necessary information jst over complicates things and slows things down, some people may have a different opinion but rather than having to explain this that and the other and sending them loads of paperwork that really has nothing to do with them the easiest thing would be to get the payments moved from his account.

The lenders wont be concerned as long as they are receiving payment................

Hope that helps

kizzy2010

i would do what others have said and just get the lenders to take the money from your bf dads account. this cuts out the need for your bf dad to give you money. as far sa i'm aware, housing benefit people and dwp etc, arent really concerned with what loans you have. at least they have never asked me for this information anyway.
the other thing i would say is to do this right away and wait to move in together until you have 2 clear months where this money hasnt gone into your account.
i know when you apply for housing benefit they ask you for the last 2 months of account statements. at least if these payments from your bf dad are nowhere on these 2 months statements, then there will be no questions asked