Benefits help please.

stef240377

I have a family friend and his family who have been made homeless due to no fault of their own. They are currently receiving no benefits as have no fixed abode. I am in receipt of benefits (due to disability in family) and am able to temporarily help them out allowing them the use of the lounge to sleep in.

Does anyone know if they would be able to claim jobseekers, child tax credits and any other relevant benefits while searching for a new property and would it affect any of the money i get coming in?

Would respect positive replies please as this is a sensitive issue

karenx

Are they looking for a job? If not they wont get JSA. How old are the children? They not already getting child tax credits?

How were they made homeless? Were they renting?

stef240377

Yes they were in a rented property and had handed in tenancy as found a better house, day before they were due to move in were notified the property had been sold and there fore unable to move into it.There are 5 children aged between 17 and 13. One of the adults is able to work the other one has health conditions.

As far as i know they receive child benefits and working tax credits from before the upheaval.

karenx

Why are they getting working tax credits if nobody is working? Thats an overpayment right there they will have to pay back. And if they have a claim in for working tax credits then surly they are getting child tax credits?
The one who has health conditions are they getting DLA etc?

stef240377

they have only been homeless a week, so at min everything is up in the air. As have no fixed abode have not been able to transfer working tax credits to child tax credits etc. The one not working is not receiving any benefits whatsoever. The working tax credits and child benefits is all they are receiving currently. They have not claimed anything up to yet as they are so confused with the benefits system they dont know if anything they claim while temporarily here will affect my families benefits.

karenx

You dont transfer working tax credits to child tax credits. They are 2 different benefits. Child is for the children and how much they have etc. Working tax credits is if you are working 16hours plus per week if you have children. When was the last time one of them worked?

stef240377

Have just asked and the male in the situation is unsure if it is working tax credits but it has been a few months since either of them worked. Making money selling personal effects to keep them in food supplies until i took them in.

karenx

In that case they must call tax credits asap and get working tax credits stopped and they will have a massive overpayment to pay back. And the longer they leave it the more they will have to pay back

stef240377

So would you have any idea if they started claiming JSA if it would affect any of the money ihave coming in?

karenx

I dont think so. But are they looking for work?

HappyMJ

It will not affect you as they are just short term guests. You expect them to move out as soon as possible. They aren't paying rent to you so you will have nothing to declare. If they stay longer you'll have to mention it to council as it will affect any Housing Benefit if you get it. If you are claiming a discount on Council Tax then if they are long term lodgers then you will lose the 25% discount or any Council Tax Benefit will need recalculation.

But to me it sounds as if they are just there for a few weeks then it doesn't matter it won't affect anything.