Help with Housing Benefit, 2 bed flat

crollsy

Hey all, just registered to ask this as I have tried to find out all over the web but had no luck.

Basically, myself and my girlfriend want to get our own place, she works full time and I am on Jobseeker's.

We wanted to find a way to split the rent for wherever we get so that HB covers half (or close to) and she pays the rest. We are unable to claim as a couple and get a 1 bedroom flat as she apparently earns too much, although she cannot afford to support us both.

We therefore want to get a 2 bedroom flat, as a non-couple, and get HB for one room and pay rent for the other, however we are unsure how to go about this. Do we need to make sure the landlord accepts this, or can she sub-let to me once she starts renting? Is it better to begin the claim as soon as we move in, or for me to claim after living there for a short time (As in, if I am working as an Xmas temp and paying rent initially)? Can the landlord evict us for claiming HB halfway through our lease?

Thank you for all the help,

Chris

princessdon

No - you are a couple and treat as a couple. If your income is low you may be entitled to HB anyway.

sniggings

you can't do that, it would be fraud, you need to claim as a couple, on both your JSA claim and housing benefit claim, you may still get some housing benefit if your joint income is low enough, but you will not get any JSA.

Fire_Fox

http://static.advicenow.org.uk/files/benefits-and-livingtogether-2010-11-1161.pdf
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/dmgch11.pdf

BigAunty

That's quite a breezy scenario - you've somehow taken for granted there's nothing wrong with maximising your HB claim through fraud and are now just querying how to get the tenancy!

For means tested benefits like income based JSA, housing benefit and council tax discount, the DWP & local council have rules that oblige claimants to apply jointly and declare a relationship as a couple - to not do so is fraud. The paperwork submitted for HB will make this quite clear and detail that false info can lead to prosecution. Therefore you cannot get a 2 bedroom property to maximise your benefit entitlement by concealing that you live together as a couple.

The benefits system expect that couples support and assist each other rather than the taxpayer which is why your partner's income is taken into account.

That said, those in employment can still qualify for HB if the joint household income is low - around half of all HB claims go to those in work. You can identify the maximum LHA for a 1 bedroom property on the local council website and put in your income details into the Turn2us online benefit calculator to double check if any LHA is due.

Therefore your remaining questions on how to secure a tenancy and apply for HB on a 2 bed property are irrelevant.

crollsy

I think I may have been misinterpreted, in no way do I want to commit fraud!

All I wanted was some advice on how to get a flat together with my other half when she is working and I am currently not. The ideas I suggested were just suggestions. I didn't realise some of them were fraudulent.

So ignoring anything that could be construed as illegal, what are our options? As I said, she earns what is considered enough to support us both, despite it not actually being enough. I spoke with someone at the council before and he said I wasn't entitled to Housing Benefit due to her salary being too high.

Currently she is living in shared accommodation with 3 students, but they are leaving their university after the christmas break and so she has to leave the house as well. I currently live with my parents.

Is there any way for us to get a place together (without committing fraud)?

Firefox1975

crollsy wrote: »

Is there any way for us to get a place together (without committing fraud)?

Yes, you get a job and share the bills.

That's it! the easiest solution.

skintandscared_2

Of course you can get a place together. Just go through the paper/online and find something within your means. It'll probably be a studio or one-bed apartment, but maybe when you get a job and your joint income is higher you'll be able to get somewhere bigger.

Vincent_Buenisedes

crollsy wrote: »

I think I may have been misinterpreted, in no way do I want to commit fraud!

All I wanted was some advice on how to get a flat together with my other half when she is working and I am currently not. The ideas I suggested were just suggestions. I didn't realise some of them were fraudulent.

So ignoring anything that could be construed as illegal, what are our options? As I said, she earns what is considered enough to support us both, despite it not actually being enough. I spoke with someone at the council before and he said I wasn't entitled to Housing Benefit due to her salary being too high.

Currently she is living in shared accommodation with 3 students, but they are leaving their university after the christmas break and so she has to leave the house as well. I currently live with my parents.

Is there any way for us to get a place together (without committing fraud)?

Don't listen to the council bod; there are several calculators online that can help you to find out what you would be entitled to, here's one.
http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx

cutestkids

Why not wait until you have a job and are able to move in to a place together without relying on Housing Benefit to pay for half of it,

heartbreak_star

There's no misinterpretation - what you describe is fraud, even if you think it isn't.

And you do what me and my OH did when he was training - you scrimp and save and don't go out.

HBS x