Single dad & overcrowding

AzzA101

Hi, iv been scanning these boards for a few months just having a mooch really, but thought id sign up so i can borrow your expertise.

Me and my fiance, who with we have a child together, split up a couple of years ago. She stayed in her council house, and I moved back in with my parents. She has our child monday to friday while i have him saturday and sunday. I do pay child support.

My parents live in a three bedroom house, I have my room, my parents have there own room, and my son has his own room. Unfortunately my sister split up with her partner a few months ago, and because she couldnt afford to run her home on her own, has recently just moved back in with me and my parents (I dont begrudge her honestly!). Now she is in my sons room and my son is forced to sleep on a fold up bed in my parents room. I think its fair to say we are very cramped. My son is nearly three, im 21 and my sisters 24.

Now iv got all that out of the way, id like to know if i would be elligible to any help in the form of benefits, if i was to get another place to live for myself and my son. I know i would be eligible if i had him all the time, but i do have him for alot of the time and the situations has soon wore very thin, and because im on a low income, i would really struggle to pay the bills. Any help or advice would be highly appreciated.

Thank you.

bobajob_1966

You're not overcrowded by social housing standards. You are not entitled to any benefits. I see no reason why your son cannot share a room/ bed with you.

AzzA101

what is the soical housing standards for overcrowding?

bobajob_1966

AzzA101 wrote: »

what is the soical housing standards for overcrowding?

Each authority has different standards, but none would see five people in a three bed house as overcrowding, plus as the child stays two nights a week he won't even count.

Tory70 wrote: »

No, you'll not get extra LHA to provide your son his own room. Depending on your age you'll either get the shared room rate or one bed rate.

Do you work? Can you afford to privately rent? Even if you get a one ed place, there is no reason why you can't put a sofa bed in the lounge and give your son you're room for the two days you are caring for him.

21, so only the shared room rate.

Annisele

If you're in England, Shelter has information about overcrowding here.

The overcrowding definitions aren't really about how many bedrooms there are - they're about how many rooms there are. Most people aren't all that keen on sleeping in a kitchen, but what people like to do isn't relevant to the rules.

In any case, I think that if your son only stays with you a couple of nights a week, he doesn't count as living with you at all.

As to benefits, have a look at Turn2us. "Low income" means different things to different people, so I'm not sure quite how low you mean - but stick some figures into that website and it might help you.

AzzA101

Tory70 wrote: »

Do you work? Can you afford to privately rent? Even if you get a one ed place, there is no reason why you can't put a sofa bed in the lounge and give your son you're room for the two days you are caring for him.

yes i do work, i would definitly not be able to afford to privately rent. i have looked into this option and know that i wouldnt be able to afford it.

i dont want to put across the impression that i am a benefit lout. i have worked full time since the day i left school, and lazy benefit louts annoy me just as much as anyone.

When i was with my fiance we had a council house, i worked full time and she worked around her university course. i know this is irrelevent but it annoys me a bit that i have to pay child support, even though i cloth him and feed him out of my own pocket when hes with me, and she pockets that money, and since we split up she gets a hell of alot more money from the council.

AzzA101

Thank you all for your feedback. i hope i havent come across as an arogant lout

bobajob_1966

Perhaps you could try to explain to your ex that she needs to use the child support for clothing etc? I guess it won't go down well at first, but better for the little one in the long run?

AzzA101

bobajob_1966 wrote: »

Perhaps you could try to explain to your ex that she needs to use the child support for clothing etc? I guess it won't go down well at first, but better for the little one in the long run?

I have been down that route before and most definitly do not want to do it again. Thanks for the support though.

Im pretty sure i know where i stand know regarding the situation. Id like to thank you all for your time and extremely quick replies! Thank you.

Wee_Willy_Harris

Overcrowding. There are two overcrowding standards that will matter to you. Section X of the 1985 Housing Act and your local housing providers own policy on overcrowding. It's widely accepted that Section X is, to say the least, pretty draconian. It's also worth bearing in mind that this applies to overcrowding when housed, rather than that caused by an expansion of a family. Certainly, your situation would be one which could have been avoided by refusal to accommodate either you or your sister. However, your local provider will have their own policy and proceedure. Depending on where you live, demand, property availability etc, their policy may well grant you an overcrowding priority.

Entitlement - property. Again, there is no legal right to a 2 bed property to allow access to your child. However, as above, each provider will have its own policy based on local supply and demand, so it is possible that you would qualify for a 2 bed flat or even a 2 bed house. Possible, but unlikely.

Entitlement - HB/LHA. This is the simple one. If renting privately, whatever size property it is, your LHA award will be based on the shared room rate. If renting social housing, Housing Benefit is applicable and the award is likely to be higher. However, this is due for review in the benefit changes currently being considered.

Speak to your local social housing provider(s).

kingfisherblue

AzzA101 wrote: »

i know this is irrelevent but it annoys me a bit that i have to pay child support, even though i cloth him and feed him out of my own pocket when hes with me, and she pockets that money, and since we split up she gets a hell of alot more money from the council.

You should be paying 15% of your net income, less two sevenths if you have your son overnight twice a week (minimum 104 nights a year). The reduction is to allow you some income to feed him.

Ask his mother to send him clothes to wear, or keep just one or two outfits for him and make sure he goes home in the clothes that he was wearing when he arrived. It shouldn't cost much for a couple of outfits - maybe £20-30 in total, if you use supermarket clothing. George at Asda has some lovely Tshirts.