Housing Benefit - How and Why?

moggins

My DD is expecting her first baby in June. Her boyfriend has already fired her from her job for being moody with the customers, she is now receiving JS and her boyfriend has intimated that with the pub they ran together being in a rough area it may be a good idea if she finds somewhere else to live. I can see exactly where this is going but she still hasn't woken up and smelled the coffee!

However there is a lovely little two bedroomed house up for rent 5 houses down from me, where I could help out with the baby on a regular basis and is near enough that if she has any problems I could be there in 30 seconds flat. Would she be entitled to Housing Benefit for a 2 bedroomed house with it being just her and the baby? Would they class her as intentionally homeless seeing as her and her boyfriend haven't actually split up?

There is no way she can stay living at the pub with a new baby, it's a busy noisy pub, they are already sharing the upstairs with other people who her OH seems to let stay there on a whim and they all smoke The stairs to the upper floor are a nightmare and I am constantly afraid that she will slip on them whilst she is pregnant. I don't even go up there to visit her anymore as I am so angry I think I might punch him, he swore to her that they would both quit the pub and now he has gone completely back on his word. I just want her out of there and into somewhere safe but I can't afford to pay the rent for her, however all of the family have offered to chip in and pay the deposit and the first months rent.

Savvy_Sue

I think you can ask for a rent determination from the local council, and even if you don't get full HB (either because it's deemed she doesn't NEED two bedrooms or because the rent is over the odds for the area) you would still get some HB.

HB is dependent on income, not why you're claiming it, IYSWIM, so the fact that she has 'chosen' to move out would be irrelevant if she is renting privately.

At least that's my understanding. Not an expert, but the experts will be along shortly if I'm wrong ...

joe_poet

I think till the child is a year old it's not determined to need a room itself regarding housing benefit.

If you can pay up front the deposit & rent till housing benefit comes through & any shortfall in rent declared by housing thereafter, then she's surely better out than in?

Money upfront paid for rent would be reimbursed when claim settled, though deductions for any amount not paid by benefit would be deducted.

Wishing you good luck.
x

moggins

Thanks both of you. As soon as I get DD2 back to school I'll take her in to find out as much as we can.