How much will this effect my benefits

ragdoll1924

I am a single working mum of 3 children and get full housing allowance (although it doesn't cover my rent), full council tax allowance, working and child tax credit and I manage to scrape by each month to which I am content with. However a friend of mine has become homeless I would like to let him stop with me until he is sorted out. I know I legally have to inform benefits but I need to know how much I am going to loose in benefits compared to the rent he is going to give me as I don't want to be making extra money but cant afford to loose what I currently get, I just want to help my friend out and in return for me charging him a low rent of £20 a week he is going to do jobs around the house and garden that I just cant do.

Im guessing it wont be a simple as me loosing £20 a week in benefits and getting £20 a week from my lodger and I wondered how much will the £20 a week rent from my lodger reduce my housing/council tax benefit and my working/child tax credits.

If anyone has been in this situation and can advise I would be most grateful.

krisskross

ragdoll1924 wrote: »

I am a single working mum of 3 children and get full housing allowance (although it doesn't cover my rent), full council tax allowance, working and child tax credit and I manage to scrape by each month to which I am content with. However a friend of mine has become homeless I would like to let him stop with me until he is sorted out. I know I legally have to inform benefits but I need to know how much I am going to loose in benefits compared to the rent he is going to give me as I don't want to be making extra money but cant afford to loose what I currently get, I just want to help my friend out and in return for me charging him a low rent of £20 a week he is going to do jobs around the house and garden that I just cant do.

Im guessing it wont be a simple as me loosing £20 a week in benefits and getting £20 a week from my lodger and I wondered how much will the £20 a week rent from my lodger reduce my housing/council tax benefit and my working/child tax credits.

If anyone has been in this situation and can advise I would be most grateful.

You could be in real problems if he is seen as other than a lodger. Probably best not to risk it for the sake of £20 a week I would think.

midnight_express

It's really not a good idea as it will be very hard to prove that you aren't a couple. I wouldn't do it unless you can afford to live without your benefits.