Giving up work to become a carer

jb000

Hi there, wonder if anyone can help me.

My mother's disabilites are getting as such that she can hardly walk and needs help with daily living. I work 30hrs per week and combine this with caring for her. She is currently on ICB/Widows Pension and DLA - High Mobility and Middle Care

It is getting to the point that I am finding it difficult to do both and I am thinking of leaving work to be her full time carer.

The problem is that that the property we live in is owned by my brother and he lives overseas, we pay the mortgage each month in lieu of rent. As my income would fall quite a bit if I become a carer, my only worry is that my wages currently pay for the mortgage and there would be no help to cover this cost as I could not claim housing benefit as the property is owned by a relative, and I dont want us to end up on the streets.

Is there any other assistance I would be able to get to cover this problem. Many thanks

reduceditem

You can claim Housing Benefit for living in a relative-owned house as long as they don't live there.

Just make up a rent agreement and you're away.

Double check....but I'm sure I'm right.

jb000

Many thanks for that, it's put my mind at rest a bit. I will e-mail my brother tonight and see if we can draw up a tenancy agreement. He has lived overseas for the past 10 years so the council can check up to see it is not anything untoward.

reduceditem

jb000 wrote: »

Many thanks for that, it's put my mind at rest a bit. I will e-mail my brother tonight and see if we can draw up a tenancy agreement. He has lived overseas for the past 10 years so the council can check up to see it is not anything untoward.

I have PM'd you with more info.

Best wishes.

jb000

Seen your PM, many thanks for the advice. The HB was the only obstacle in the way, but that seems to be OK now. I will try to see someone from the council tomorrow and have e-mailed my brother, I will let you know the outcome.

Once again, many thanks.

Broken_hearted

Dont do it with futher cuts coming you could end up homeless. Carers get no help or support in this country and end up becoming ill themselves.

Oldernotwiser

Although you can claim LHA when renting from a relative, it's really not that simple. There has to be a formal tenancy agreement and paying a market rate. You can also only claim the LHA rate for a 2 bedroom property, regardless of the size of the house.

MrsManda

Can you not speak to your brother and come to an arrangement where he helps pay towards the mortgage? It's presumably his mother as well who needs looking after?

reduceditem

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Although you can claim LHA when renting from a relative, it's really not that simple. There has to be a formal tenancy agreement and paying a market rate. You can also only claim the LHA rate for a 2 bedroom property, regardless of the size of the house.

A relative of mine does this and it was no problem at all.....Housing Benefit were happy to advise on the matter.

Tenancy agreement documents can be found on the internet or from places like Staples, etc.

reduceditem

MrsManda wrote: »

Can you not speak to your brother and come to an arrangement where he helps pay towards the mortgage? It's presumably his mother as well who needs looking after?

The brother is abroad so if there were no relatives at his property contributing, he would presumably rent it out privately (likely for more than his mortgage payment).

I'm sure the brother would not see any of his relatives on the street but there's no need for him to be out of pocket to boot when there is help available via HB.

paulofessex

I would suggest also seeking the advice of the CAB who can provide a detailed breakdown of what support you would likely get. Best to do this before speaking to the council in case the person you speak to is the sort who will not tell you what your entitled to unless you ask for it.