Confusion about benefits/household contributions

eimaj

Hello all,

I'm a single young adult who moved back home in July last year. From July to October I was out of work and claimed Job Seekers Allowance, and since October I've been working full time.

My mum lives at home as an out of work single parent, and she claims both Child Support and Housing Benefit. I was not aware until very recently that I had to inform the council that I was living back at home, and there is now a possibility that my mum's benefits will be slashed and she'll be fined a hefty sum. Obviously I don't want this to happen, but I am more than happy to contribute towards the housing costs and Council Tax.

I'm in a bit of a pickle really because I don't know what to do. How honest should I be? Who should I contact? How much am I likely going to have to pay out? I'm not exactly on a great wage!

Any help would be much appreciated.

McKneff

You, dont have to do anything.

Seeing as if everything is in your mums name it is her who has to deal with it all. She should have informed the council
that you had moved back in, not you. Does she have any other children in the household.

Tell her to get in touch with DWP, a fine probably wont happen but she will have to pay back any overpayments
as well as dealing with a dip in her benefits.

Are you contributing to the household now.

RAS

Your mum will need to provide evidence of your income when you were on JSA and since you started work.

You will have to make non-dependant's contribution to the household, which depends on your income.

if you do this back-dated to when you moved home, mum should be able to cover any back-payments she has to make for HB and CTB.

BigAunty

You can identify the exact HB and council tax owed by your mother, which should have come to her in the form of keep from you, by finding the 'non-dependents deduction' table on your local council website.

Here's a sample table here.

http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/500180/housing_benefit/4285/non-dependants-people_living_with_you_who_affect_your_housing_benefit_and_council_tax_benefit/3

I imagine your mum can pay back the overpayment in a small sum each month to the local council while you can also do the same to her.