LHA/social housing rights when having children 1 night per week

ecgirl07

We have a situation in our family where a couple have split up ( a proper split not a temporary thing). They have 4 kids. The kids stay with the mum and she receives full LHA and as yet their father has not taken them overnight on access visits.

He is leaving his armed forces job and therefore accommodation and wants the mum the write a letter stating that he gets the children every weekend for overnight stays (even though he has not as yet). A few questions arise on the back of this:

He seems to think this letter will get him a council house/social housing bigger than one bedroom, is this true?

Will he get higher LHA than single person one bedroom rate?

If he does not take the kids every weekend i presume the mum is helping commit fraud?

Thanks in advance for answering questions.

Caz3121

only one person can claim the benefits for the children. I this case, even if he had them 3 nights a week he will still be treated as a single man in the eyes of the benefits agencies. Only if he had the children more than the mother and then claim child benefit, tax credits etc instead of her would he get the additional room requirements

karenx

Its not commiting any fraud as the letter wont make a difference to his entitlements. He is a single man claiming, so nothing will help him get a council house as there is a big waiting list so he will more than likely go right to the very bottom. And if he privatly rents he will only be entitled to help at the one bedroom rate, or shared depending on what age he is. He can rent a house as big as he likes but will have to make up the shortfall himself

ecgirl07

thanks for the replies.

Kimberley82

When my husband left the army 9 years ago, we were given priority council housing as he was leaving the forces. He got a 2 bed council flat in 2 days of asking.

Hammyman

karenx wrote: »

Its not commiting any fraud as the letter wont make a difference to his entitlements. He is a single man claiming, so nothing will help him get a council house as there is a big waiting list so he will more than likely go right to the very bottom.

Ex-Forces so you quite rightly go to the top of the list in front of the scroungers and bums.