Housing Benefit Help

jazabelle

I'm trying to help a friend of mine maximise her income, as she's struggling. She's disabled and currently working, but needing to reduce her hours as her condition has got worse.

She currently lives with her sister who works, and it's her sister's house. So this question is two fold. Putting all her details into Entitled To she is able to get some Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. Can she get this while she lives with her sister?

In a couple of months, her sister is moving out, and will become her landlord. At that same time her income will go down as her hours are reduced. Will she at this point be able to claim them both? Thank you!

Morglin

It might be a good idea, if she gives Shelter a ring, as this can be a tricky area:

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/paying_for_a_home/housing_benefit_and_local_housing_allowance/housing_benefit_if_renting_from_a_family_member#1

Lin

Notmyrealname

She would be unlikely to qualify for HB/CTB at the moment. When the sister moves out though then she should be able to although it will be a bit of a struggle as it is when renting off family.

tuttifruiti20

I believe at the moment because she is living with an imediate family member she cannot get housing benefit or council tax benefit.

However, once her sister becomes her landlord, she should be able to put in a claim for both and as a minimum will get the 25% single occupancy discount for council tax, but from what you've said probably more due to low income.

Don't forget she could also look at claiming working tax credit if she's working even part time and is low income - not sure if this would be affected by living with her sister or not tho.

jazabelle

Thank you very much for the advice. I'm glad to hear she will be able to get it when her sister moves out, even if it will be a bit of a battle. I assumed she wouldn't get it now, but wanted to check.

We looked into Working Tax Credit and when she reduces down to 16 hours she will be able to claim that as she also gets DLA, so hopefully with WTC, Housing and Council Tax benefits/reduction, she should be able to mitigate some of the loss of wages.

BigAunty

Google 'contrived tenancy' to understand why the local council scrutinise very closely lettings between close relatives. Basically, the rules are there to prevent abuse of the housing benefit system. For example, not charging rent when a person is in employment but charging them rent when they qualify for benefits.

Is this person paying any rent to her sister at the moment? It will be hard to justify housing benefit otherwise.

Also, what is the age of the sister and the number of bedrooms? There are rules that limit the rate according to this criteria. For example, for the under 35s, they qualify for the equivalent of a room in a shared house while the 35s and older qualify for a 1 bedroom property. There is likely to be different rules for those with certain levels of disability.