Questions regarding moving in with someone in receipt of multiple benefits.

Baldurs

Hi there, I'm looking for some information on how someone who is in receipt of multiple benefits would be affected if I moved into his home.

I'm 25 and single, the "pensioner" is 67 years old, single and lives alone, he was my mum's boyfriend for a decade, essentially brought me up and as such we're very close but of no relation. Over the last 4 years I have been travelling the 8 miles to his place on a weekly (more as of late) basis in order to help him out with things as he is both disabled and in ill/worsening health.

I'm currently living in a privately rented flat and am in receipt of Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Jobseekers Allowance, I've so far been unable to find employment and my lease ends on the last day of January, the pensioner has suggested several times over the years that I move in to the spare room in his house, something that I'd like to do now given my current situation and the fact that I'm travelling to and spending time there on a regular basis already.

The problem arises from the fact that he is receiving several benefits and it's my understanding that at least some of them will be negatively affected by me moving in there, I'll list them here for ease of reading:

1. Disability Living Allowance (Medium Rate Care, High Rate Mobility).
2. Pension Credit (Home Loan Element, Severe Disability Element, Guarantee Element, Savings Element).
3. Housing Benefit.
4. Council Tax Benefit.
5. State Pension.
6. Private Pension.

Essentially I'm looking for any and all information in regards to what he would lose, how much of it, whether he would lose something entirely and so on and so forth - so that I can give him an accurate picture of what will happen as well as to help me make the decision of how to proceed.

Obviously I would stop claiming HB and CTB immediately, I'm also interested to find out whether there would be any difference between me continuing on JSA or whether I should consider applying for Carer's Allowance, since I would be performing those duties as a matter of course regardless of anything else OR even if claiming nothing would help. Which avenue would be preferable, do they make a difference to how things are assessed?

I have contacted the CAB and been given a 10min appointment for the end of the month, they seem inundated with benefit enquiries which is why I've come on here for advice.

Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated, thanks a lot for your time!

nannytone_2

ke would lose his severe disability premium, as he would no longer be living alone. possibly sone housing benefit as he would have a non dependant living with him.

nut ....

if you are caring for him for over 35 hours per week, you coulld stop claiming JSA and claim carers allowance instead. you would also get an income support 'top up' amd a carers premium. this amounts to about £105 a week.
that would leave you enough to help cover the $5ish that he would lose

tomtom256

non dep deduction shouldn't be lost as DLA care is in payment so only loss should be SDP.

Shouldn't affect anything else.

big_Daddy_Dave

i dont know anything about this, but id just like to say that its great that you go out of your way to look after him and do alot of stuff for him

youre a good person, and i hope you both dont lose anything

Mojisola

Check with the council - a resident carer is usually exempt from CT so that may stay the same, too.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Cpt.Scarlet and others

Not my area of interest, or ability so I'm happy to be corrected, but will the total of the loss in housing and council tax benefit which even in a band 'A' rented property could amount easily to £250 per month, have a negative outcome on the advice ?

O/P what's the total of HB & CT your 'dad' receives ? if its a rented property and both full HB & full CT are paid for him [via the Pension Credit passport-ing] it could be the case that your dad might be better off bringing you in as an unpaid / unofficial carer rather than tangle with loosing the guaranteed element of Pension Credits, the tenancy issues regarding a second bedroom suppliment will still need to be resolved with the LA.

In short group - is there any chance of the AP loosing his guarantee pension credit, and which of the two scenario's below will give most benefit to the AP and eventually the carer who is after all clearly an unselfish and decent person, don't all older and infirm people wish there were more of his like in the world, I know I do.

Maybe those with knowledge and experience could offer the two scenario outcomes :

.1. - official carer no JC+
.2. - unofficial live in care giver under 30 hours per week, still JC+ and available for work

nannytone_2

because the step father gets DLA, there would be no non dependent deductions from housing or council tax benefit

Richie-from-the-Boro

nannytone wrote: »

because the step father gets DLA, there would be no non dependent deductions from housing or council tax benefit

- thanks nannytone

Baldurs

Specific to post #6, sorry for the delay I had to go over, find and help him decipher his paperwork, I hope I've got this right, there is:

1, 100% of housing benefit currently £185.77 per month
2, 100% of council tax benefit currently £65.26 per month
3, There is a supplementary payment to his mortgage of £7.00 per month
4, There is a payment of pension credit totalling £147.63 per month
5, There is a private industry pension of £174.12 per month
6, There is his state pension of £583.00 per month

That seems a lot, but that's what the paperwork shows. Please note that regarding 1 & 2 he actually pays no money, the paperwork simply cancels itself out.

For those who like me can't understand why both mortgage and rent are paid its because the house is something called 'shared ownership' where its part mortgage and part rented.

I'm really after some specific information on either:

1. Claiming Carer's Allowance for myself.
2. Claiming nothing.

Before I proceed, does one have any advantage over the other, what are the differences in terms of which benefits are affected (if any?). Would being an official carer touch his Pension Credit Guarantee for example? Do you have a recommendation?

Nannytone thanks for your help and advice I don't have a clue about all this stuff and wouldn't have known where to go to ask. Additionally I don't want him to get into any kind of bother for offering me a home, and he hates as he puts it "tangling with government departments" who write in nonsense language, having read a lot of his letters I know what he means.