Please help! Living with partner and claiming housing benefit

red__2

Hello, I'd really appreciate help here as I'm going a bit mad.

My situation is this: my tenancy has ended. I need to move. My boyfriend's tenancy has ended. He needs to move.

He has a job- he works 28 hours a week and earns, I think, £17000 before tax.

I do not have a job. I have a mental illness and I am currently on income support, disability living allowance (middle rate care, low rate mobility) and housing benefit.

If we moved in together, I know I would lose my income support. I am prepared to do this.

What I want to know is, if we moved into a one or two bed flat (we live in London), would I be able to claim housing benefit? i.e cover my part of the rent with it because I have no income?

In September I will hopefully start studying so I don't mind losing all those benefits, as long as I can still claim some HB and my DLA.

Anyway, any help is MUCH appreciated. Thanks.

Sharon87

On his wage you will most likely not be entitled to housing benefit

You can check using https://www.entitledto.co.uk to check what benefits you will receive

I'm sure you'll get your DLA. you can apply for housing/council tax benefit, but you and your partner will need a joint claim, so if their wage goes down you may be entitled to something.

red__2

Thank you for your response! Entitled to says I'd be able to get housing benefit, but I wanted a human's input on it. I am freaking out a little because I have to move pretty much now.

Sharon87

Also if you become a student you will be exempt from council tax, so your partner can get a 25% single persons discount

red__2

Thank you!

Does anyone else have any advice on this, been in a similar situation or anything?

Indie_Kid

red_ wrote: »

Thank you for your response! Entitled to says I'd be able to get housing benefit, but I wanted a human's input on it. I am freaking out a little because I have to move pretty much now.

Did you put in your LHA rate or the rate of rent that you pay?

red__2

I haven't moved yet so don't know my LHA rate, but did the LHA rate for the area I might move to. Here I pay under my LHA rate for my rent.

fluffymovie

To be honest, you would be best to use a benefit calculator on your council's website to find out.

As you have stated that you are unwell, you are entitled to DLA which would mean certain premiums etc. It can be a bit complex to calculate on a forum.

The LHA rate will be applicable for the type of accomodation that you will be occupying so as a couple, you would only be entitled to the 1 bed LHA rate. Of course, in London this can vary quite a bit depending on where you are looking to move to but each council has to publish these rates and the next month's are received by each LA around 5 working days before the start of the following month.

HB would be calculated with you as a couple and it doesn't work that you have to pay your half so you claim your half with HB.

Also, as a student, you would not normally be entitled to claim HB but as you are in receipt of DLA, I think you would be ok. However, your student finance would be used as income and that, together with your partner's income, may mean a loss or no HB altogether.

sleepless_saver

red_ wrote: »

Thank you!

Does anyone else have any advice on this, been in a similar situation or anything?

You would probably find a 2 bedroom property too expensive. Local housing allowance entitlement would be based on one bedroom for a couple (and you may well be entitled to less than the one bedroom rate).

Edited to add: I just remembered that entitledto isn't designed for households with students, so don't rely on the results you get using it.

red__2

I'm not a student, and won't be for almost a year so I'll cross that one when I come to it.

LHA for Peckham is £190 per week- a 2 bed there can be about 220. Which is still too expensive, really.

red__2

Out of curiousity, does anyone know if you can claim ESA/JSA after claiming income support? I mean the contributions based elements of those benefits. What happens to your contributions when you're claiming income support? Should I ring the HRMC and ask?

I am not entirely well enough to work but if I am going to have to to support us I'll try! Even JSA would be massively helpful.

And thank you for your help.