renting a room and child tax credit help please

redsquarelady

Hi

I was wondering if someone could give me some advice please.....
My partner and i have just split up (very messy but thats another story)
I have come to live with a friend of mine, well to rent a room of her. Its myself and my 1 year old daughter. I claim tax credits. I'm just wondering when i call tax credtits to tell them my change of circumstances, will they take the household income or just mine. We are not finacialy linked. And im paying her rent for the room me and my daughter share. This will probably be for about 3 months whilst i get back on my feet.
thank you for any advice given

nannytone_2

it's just your income........unless of course youre 'in a relationship' with the person youre living with.

redsquarelady

No im not in a relationship with her shes my best mate. Its just when it says 'household' income i didn't know if that was everyone in the 'household' Cause she is claiming tax credits as well. Even though its completely separate and im just renting a room off her.
Thanks for the reply.

joeblack066

Your 'household' is the people in your family, that you are a 'partner' to and financially linked to.

You need a tenancy agreement from her if you need Hb, and she needs to ensure that she is charging within the govt Rent a Room Scheme for tax implications. I am not sure how that impacts on her income as a whole, where tax credits are concerned, so she will need to check that.

N79

joeblack066 wrote: »

Your 'household' is the people in your family, that you are a 'partner' to and financially linked to.

You need a tenancy agreement from her if you need Hb, and she needs to ensure that she is charging within the govt Rent a Room Scheme for tax implications. I am not sure how that impacts on her income as a whole, where tax credits are concerned, so she will need to check that.

OP needs a licence to occupy, not a tenancy agreement, because she is an excluded occupier (colloquially called a lodger) and not a tenant.

LibbyRose

The landlady's income has no bearing on yours at all for child tax credit or other benefits but it may be worth not mentioning she's a friend in case they make other assumptions, ie. that there's a relationship.

As a lone parent there may be other support you're entitled to, I'd seriously suggest contacting Gingerbread's advice line as a starting point ( the number's on their website), they're really helpful.