Girlfriend redundant 0k, does my 60k salary mean no Housing Benefit?!

steviecool7

I live with my girlfriend (4 months) who was recently made redundant.

We share a 1 bed flat and pay £425 each per month (private rent) + ~£50 each in council tax.

I earn £60K per year so I believe that this is taken into account when assessing the housing benefit claim. I also have my own savings ~15k.

Is it worth her trying to claim housing benefit as now she can't pay any of her rent or council tax?

Will they just expect me to pay both halfs?! (£1000+, + bills etc)

Many thanks in advance for any info.

warwicktiger

Sorry, no sympathy, if you earn (or get paid £60,000 p.a.) then I who earn less than the average wage and pay tax into the system hope you are not eligible for benefit. When I say you I mean both of you as you have chosen to live together.

Two4Tuesday

Why are you going out with a 4 month girlfriend? Shouldn't you find a fully grown one?

shegirl

Two4Tuesday wrote: »

Why are you going out with a 4 month girlfriend? Shouldn't you find a fully grown one?

:rotfl::rotfl::T

zagfles

Yes, if you live together then you're a couple for benefits purposes, so you'll be expected to support her. You won't get any housing benefit or council tax benefit (there is a "second adult rebate" for council tax when you live with someone on a low income but it doesn't apply when that person is your partner, so you'll have to pay 100%).

She might be entitled to contributory JSA if she's worked for long enough, but that's probably it.

PS ignore any judgemental drivel you're bound to get here with such a question.

withabix

You gross £60k and have £15k savings.

You don't need housing benefit.

You aren't entitled to it and nor should you be.

Nine_Lives

warwicktiger wrote: »

Sorry, no sympathy, if you earn (or get paid £60,000 p.a.) then I who earn less than the average wage and pay tax into the system hope you are not eligible for benefit. When I say you I mean both of you as you have chosen to live together.

I'm sorry, but as i get 18k per year (by putting in a stack of overtime), 60k is something i could only dream of.
This aside, it's really irritating when people reply with comments such as yours.

While i'm jealous of OPs wage, i'm sure he wont be interested as to whether i have sympathy for him or not & i'm quite sure he wont be interested in whether you have sympathy for him or not.

He asked a basic question which you chose to ignore & instead go rambling about how he's paid more than you. Whuptee-do.

If you can't help, don't reply. I don't know why people like you post replies like that. The tax forum is full of it.

warwicktiger

Basically because I resent that the safety net of benefits established by Beveridge has turned into an expectation of something for nothing in our society. I have no problem with someone earning 3 times what I do if they deserve it, but why should I have to pay my taxes to support them?

Nine_Lives

You misunderstand me.

I don't like someone getting something for nothing any more than the next man. I don't like people claiming benefits they're not entitled to, but IF (keyword: IF) they're entitled to them, regardless of their income, then they're entitled to them, end of story. We may not agree, we may not care, but IF they're entitled when they earn plenty of money, then it's not the individuals fault, it's the systems. If they're not entitled then fair enough.

OP asked 2 very simple questions...

Q1) Is it worth? (that's a yes/no answer)
Q2) Will they just expect? (that's a yes/no answer)

No detail required, just yes/no. You didn't give either. You just went on about how someone on 60k shouldn't get benefits. I actually see where you're coming from, but....

That wasn't the question though was it.

warwicktiger

OK, apology accepted, and to be honest not needed. Just getting so frustrated, as a single guy, mortgage payer, no housing benefit, no child tax credits or benefits of any kind its so annoying when you work hard to earn £20,000ish p.a. Why should high earning households get any kind of benefit?

I seem to feel I pay for everything. I had a lbm ten years ago and have worked off the debt apart from the mortgage, I am proud of earning my living and mortgage aside do not owe anybody anything!

Surely someone on £60,000 a year can afford to support their partner without resorting to benefits?

Nine_Lives

warwicktiger wrote: »

Surely someone on £60,000 a year can afford to support their partner without resorting to benefits?

I'm actually in agreement with you. On 18k per year i can get by. It's not comfortable living, but you make the most of what you've got. 60k is over 3x what i get, so if 18k can cover 1 of me, i'm sure 60k could cover 2 folk.

But all that is irrelevant anyway. There's a forum on the board to have a good old moan. This forum is to answer folks questions.