Mother and younger sister moving in.

kathynewbie09

Hi I do not know if there has already been a thread like this I did look but could not find anything. My partner and I have been considering getting my mother and younger sister to move in with us as my mother is disabled and needs some help around the house. She has also just been given notice to leave the property she is in so needs somewhere to move into. She only gets the lower disability rate but she is a single mother. She has recently had an operation to remove her pancreas due to a large polyp that was found, she has familial adenomatous polyposis and has had to have her bowel removed because of this. I will also have to have this operation in the near future as I have inherited the faulty gene containing the FAP gene. I have two young children, the eldest is two and the youngest is one. Unfortunately I am unemployed as where I worked closed down just after I found out I was pregnant with my youngest. My partner cares for the children whilst I look for work. My sister is fourteen and is starting to study for her GCSE's in September. What I need to know is how benefits would work combining the two households together so that my mother can get some extra help. My family currently receives Child Benefit (£33.70pw), Child Tax Credit (£114.03pw), Income based Job Seekers Allowance (£111.45pw before deductions), Housing Benefit (£80pw) and Council tax benefit (£19pw). My mother currently receives Disability living allowance at the lowest rate (£20.55pw), Income support (£71pw), Housing Benefit (£80pw), Council Tax Benefit (£20pw), Child Tax Credit (£36pw) and Child Benefit (£20.30pw). The house we have seen so that we can all live together is £650pcm it is a four bedroom house as that is what we are entitled to until my daughter turns ten unless the rules change again I don't know that council tax banding for it though. Any help would be greatly appreciated.:)

benefitbaby

Hi, although you will all be living together in one house from a benefit perspective you will still be seen as two separate households.

So you will retain your Child Benefit (£33.70pw), Child Tax Credit (£114.03pw), Income based Job Seekers Allowance (£111.45pw before deductions)

Your mother will retain her Disability living allowance (£20.55pw), Income support (£71pw, Child Tax Credit (£36pw) and Child Benefit (£20.30pw)

Your mother will qualify for the 2-bed LHA rate for HB purposes and you will also qualify for the 2-bed rate.

As both of you will continue to receive means-tested benefits your council tax will be covered in full.

Man_Overboard_2

benefitbaby wrote: »

although you will all be living together in one house from a benefit perspective you will still be seen as two separate households

I know little of these things, and am perfectly willing to bow to your superior knowledge, but that seems to me to be an extremely risky assertion!

This family is considering moving together into a new tenancy - how will the tenancy agreement be worded if they are to be regarded as two separate households?

benefitbaby

Man_Overboard wrote: »

I know little of these things, and am perfectly willing to bow to your superior knowledge, but that seems to me to be an extremely risky assertion!

This family is considering moving together into a new tenancy - how will the tenancy agreement be worded if they are to be regarded as two separate households?

It is an oddity in benefit law but as the OP and her mother are not dependant on each other but distinct claimant groups they will each make their claims based on their own situations the tenancy itself will merely be in joint names.

Man_Overboard_2

benefitbaby wrote: »

It is an oddity in benefit law but as the OP and her mother are not dependant on each other but distinct claimant groups they will each make their claims based on their own situations the tenancy itself will merely be in joint names.

So how, and by whom, will the £650 rent be apportioned between the two claimant groups?

benefitbaby

Man_Overboard wrote: »

So how, and by whom, will the £650 rent be apportioned between the two claimant groups?

Each household sharing the property (OP and Mum) will be liable for rent of £325 p/m.

Each are eligible to receive up to the LHA for a 2-bed.

Each will make own claim for HB and will be paid in the usual way.

It really is no different than a house share but for the above to applicable both will need to be on the tenancy and have a liability to pay rent. (It will probably be cheaper for the council than paying HB and CTB on 2 separate properties too).

Man_Overboard_2

benefitbaby wrote: »

Each household sharing the property (OP and Mum) will be liable for rent of £325 p/m.

Each are eligible to receive up to the LHA for a 2-bed.

Each will make own claim for HB and will be paid in the usual way.

It really is no different than a house share but for the above to applicable both will need to be on the tenancy and have a liability to pay rent. (It will probably be cheaper for the council than paying HB and CTB on 2 separate properties too).

Mmmmm - I think this is for Professor GreyArea to consider...

Will the two claimant groups be regarded as separately liable for half the rent each, or will they be regarded as jointly liable for the entire amount? One claimant group is exactly twice the size of the other, even though they probably have equal bedroom requirements.

If I were the landlord, I would be doubtful about taking on this family as tenants.

benefitbaby

The tenancy itself and the benefit entitlements are two separate legal issues. They will be jointly and severally liable for the rent just like any couple would, and using the couple scenario only one member of the couple would actually claim HB with the other as 'partner' on the claim. This is no different really except we have two separate households in a property, jointly and severally liable for the rent and each claiming their HB entitlement.

I have seen a handful (not many because most do not chose to house share) that have successfully claimed HB in the way described and more often than not it does save the council/LA money.

Man_Overboard_2

benefitbaby wrote: »

The tenancy itself and the benefit entitlements are two separate legal issues. They will be jointly and severally liable for the rent just like any couple would, and using the couple scenario only one member of the couple would actually claim HB with the other as 'partner' on the claim. This is no different really except we have two separate households in a property, jointly and severally liable for the rent and each claiming their HB entitlement.

I have seen a handful (not many because most do not chose to house share) that have successfully claimed HB in the way described and more often than not it does save the council/LA money.

I wish the OP well, but I do not share your confidence!

Council/LA rules do not generally allow them to consider such simplicities as to whether or not they will save money by their decisions...

barnaby-bear

kathynewbie09 wrote: »

Hi I do not know if there has already been a thread like this I did look but could not find anything. My partner and I have been considering getting my mother and younger sister to move in with us as my mother is disabled and needs some help around the house. She has also just been given notice to leave the property she is in so needs somewhere to move into. She only gets the lower disability rate but she is a single mother. She has recently had an operation to remove her pancreas due to a large polyp that was found, she has familial adenomatous polyposis and has had to have her bowel removed because of this. I will also have to have this operation in the near future as I have inherited the faulty gene containing the FAP gene. I have two young children, the eldest is two and the youngest is one. Unfortunately I am unemployed as where I worked closed down just after I found out I was pregnant with my youngest. My partner cares for the children whilst I look for work. My sister is fourteen and is starting to study for her GCSE's in September. What I need to know is how benefits would work combining the two households together so that my mother can get some extra help. My family currently receives Child Benefit (£33.70pw), Child Tax Credit (£114.03pw), Income based Job Seekers Allowance (£111.45pw before deductions), Housing Benefit (£80pw) and Council tax benefit (£19pw). My mother currently receives Disability living allowance at the lowest rate (£20.55pw), Income support (£71pw), Housing Benefit (£80pw), Council Tax Benefit (£20pw), Child Tax Credit (£36pw) and Child Benefit (£20.30pw). The house we have seen so that we can all live together is £650pcm it is a four bedroom house as that is what we are entitled to until my daughter turns ten unless the rules change again I don't know that council tax banding for it though. Any help would be greatly appreciated.:)

I'm afraid I can't offer any knowledge just best wishes as you sound like a nice family with great values, hope your sister does well in her GCSEs and gets a good job!

benefitbaby

Man_Overboard wrote: »

Council/LA rules do not generally allow them to consider such simplicities as to whether or not they will save money by their decisions...

Oh I agree but the legislation allow what I propose as there is no other way for them to become one 'household' for benefit purposes.