housing benefit

Bogof_Babe

suelees1 wrote: »

She doesn't have to be a child dependant, she was resident there and that's what's taken into consideration. I explained earlier about the amount of rooms. 1 for the parent(s), 1 for the son and one each for the 16 and 20 year old because of their ages.

But why would a non-dependent adult be entitled to be included in housing benefit as if (s)he was a third dependent child?

What's to stop someone wanting to live with their entire family e.g. parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and claiming for 20-bedroom rate LHA?

Morglin

As you have a disabled son, contact this (free) disability Legal Service, who are well informed about all forms of benefits:

http://www.dls.org.uk/

It may be that you will be able to claim a 'discretionary' top up of rent.

Lin

HappyMJ

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

But why would a non-dependent adult be entitled to be included in housing benefit as if (s)he was a third dependent child?

What's to stop someone wanting to live with their entire family e.g. parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and claiming for 20-bedroom rate LHA?

Nothing really except the maximum LHA rate is now 4 bedrooms.

There's been a house here that has come onto the market. A 6 bedroom house that was two 3 bedroom semi detached houses knocked together into 1 big house. The family (extended not just kids) I have heard have left the house last year and moved into 2 adjoining 4 bedroom semi detached houses and split into 2 family groups even though they are still neighbours and now claim the 4 bedroom LHA rate twice over costing the council a lot more than before.

The house will probably be seperated back into two 3 bed properties as the LHA rates on a 4 bed is £160 a week and a 3 bed is £120 a week.

t0rt0ise

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

But why would a non-dependent adult be entitled to be included in housing benefit as if (s)he was a third dependent child?

What's to stop someone wanting to live with their entire family e.g. parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and claiming for 20-bedroom rate LHA?

The government doesn't (yet) force parents to throw their children out when they become 18 but it does take money off housing benefit and expect them to pay something towards the rent. It seems reasonable to me.

bargainbunny

Sorry should also say that when I took on the property my daughter 19..20 in feb was at college full time which was 2 years ago so she was 17 then and no way I would throw her out.

This property was very cheap for a 4 bed thats why I got this not really because of the room sizes, we used the 4th bedroom as basically a walk in wardrobe/storage as the 3rd bedroom it was off was just about big enough for double bed plus walk room and no space for wardrobes.
So that was my room, the girls each had a room and my son who wouldnt sleep in a bed had sofa in the living room as we have sep dining room.
Plus that stopped him from keeping us all up as he does not have alot of sleep.Now he has a bedroom but still likes to sleep on sofa sometimes..

Maybe I should have been more aware of the changes in benefit but normally its a struggle to do the forms let alone read the notes plus in all honesty when I took this on I was entitled to 4bed rate and this rent was below that and the council at that time said I would get it all paid with some left over but if I chose another property higher rent I would have to top it up.
As I thought the new changes was to do with new claims I did not see this problem coming :eek:
Plus I had no intention of moving as its cheap anyway compared to most properties.

Where do they get the figures from for the average rent as in my area it is still a cheaper property even if classed as a 3 bed.

I was told 2 years ago that I needed a 4bed so thats what I got

thank you for your help