Can parents still receive benefits?

sho_me_da_money

Delete thread please.

p00hsticks

There seems to be a basic contradiction here - if the 'property is not liveable' (your point 3), then how can you live in it ?

Regarding your point 4, I think you / your parents need to be clear (if they aren't already) what criteria the council have used to decide that the property is currently 'unliveable' and at what stage in the renovation it becomes 'liveable'.

Oldernotwiser

There's certainly no problem with them staying in their council property, even if they'd inherited Buckingham Palace.

I would've thought, and this is pure supposition, that there would come some point in the renovations where the value of the house is taken into account for assessing means tested benefits.

RazWaz

So there is house A that you want to fix up, and they are living in house B until house A is fixed?

Mojisola

They would have to ask the council/DWP about this. If the council has deemed the inherited house to be unfit for habitation, you won't be able to live there. If they've just given your parents a bit of leeway while the house is done up, it may be possible. It's possible for a younger, healthy person to manage in a house that would be unfit for older people with health problems.

swanny65

I guess your parents receive Income Support or Pension Credit as well as Housing Benefit.

Have you told the DWP as they may need to know?

In certain circumstances Pension Credit may except the property until your parents next assessed income period (AIP). Their Pension Credit award should explain if they have an AIP. If they don't have an AIP or they claim Income Support (or any other DWP means tested benefit) the 2nd property must be declared to the DWP also.

The DWP may also exempt the property if the intention is to sell it. However if the intention is not to sell it, and this may be deemed to be the case if you are living their rent free, then the property will be valued and, if worth more than £16000, benefits will be stopped.

hbgirl

do your parents receive Income Support or Pension Credit? could make a difference.

i am not aware of any rules that allows the capital value of a second property to be disregarded because it needs work, it would just be valued, 10% taken off to allow for potential cost of selling it, and that amount being taken into account as capital. which if over £16k would stop their income support and related benefits such as council tax benefit and housing benefit. maybe it has quite a low value if in a state of disrepair - but less than £16k???

however, pension credit can be quite generous, and don't make any changes for certain periods. (assessed income period).

to be honest, i think you have got the wrong end of the stick somewhere, as it being "unliveable" is not a criteria to disregard it's value. if they are in receipt of PC not IS, i would imagine it's value will be taken into account whenever their AIP ends.

you need to speak to either IS or PC and tell them what's happening, and possibly seek advice at the CAB

but, they wouldn't lose the council house whatever, only benefits possibly.

Mischa8

Is the house you're going to be living with:-

a) with your parents
b) another council property

I would have thought that if it's either of those then as you work (you're an IT techie from previous posts):-

a) the fact you work and live with your parents in their property - doesn't that affect the fact that they get housing support (which presumably they will get)

b) another council property - by yourself - even if you do it up - you'd have to pay rent and maybe (not sure here) have to prove to the council that as a worker not in receipt of benefits that you are entitled to live in a council house.

Not trying to be unkind or unfair here - just pointing out what could happen if they cop onto the fact you're working.

What would happen if say you wanted a Right to Buy on the house you're doing up (good idea too)? That would be even more of a benefit to you and maybe you could purchase at a reduce rate owing to the fact that the council house needs so much work doing to it and you're doing it up.

Also - are any of the fault of the house the council's fault? Just saying because a friend of mine was evicted from her CH when a botched plastering job went wrong and cut off their electricity, she is currently back in the house but as damage to the house, it killed the tropical fish in her son's electric fish tank, no proper electricity (extension leads etc) for ages then she is currently suing the council for compensation. Another problem is the fences in her back garden are falling down and as could be a danger to general public she's been offered new fencing by council there (because of the danger). So well worth trying to see what is what.

HTH:cool:

Mischa8

RazWaz wrote: »

So there is house A that you want to fix up, and they are living in house B until house A is fixed?

Yes - are they in temporary accommodation or living with friends/relatives in the meantime whilst house is fixed?

custardy

so the issue is the'money' that the house is worth?
i take it they get HB/CTB now on the proviso that they cant live in their own house(inherited)
i would think the minute you live in the house it would negate your parents claim

Mischa8

custardy wrote: »

so the issue is the'money' that the house is worth?
i take it they get HB/CTB now on the proviso that they cant live in their own house(inherited)
i would think the minute you live in the house it would negate your parents claim

Yeah - cos he'd be a new *dweller* and as he works it would cancel out benefits etc I'd assume