Can I move in with my Nan

Lisa_27

As many of you may have read I have had to move back home and have been helping care for my Mum and Stepdad but I have a feeling I am about to be stabbed in the back.

My Mum may not be able to manage stairs so wants a bungalow, they will either go through the council or private (LHA) despite bungalows seeming to be more expensive. Now apparently my Mum has said she would only get a 1 bed place from the council so that in effect may leave me homeless.

Now my knowledge tells me that getting a bungalow from the council is like nailing jelly to a tree as there are hundreds on the list for one and going private will cost a fortune if they can even find one. (I have had a look) so OT from the hospital or social services are more likely to opt for adapting the current house.

If I move out I would be entitled to a room in a shared house which again are few and far between due to LHA changes. I have a few questions....

If I went through the council would I be paid full rent on a 1 bed flat/studio flat?
Could I move in with my Nan without it affecting her, she is in a 3 bed council house and receives some HB towards it?
If I found another person and rented a 2 bed house would LHA apply?

HappyMJ

You could move in with your nan. It would reduce her "bedroom tax" payment that she will soon be expected to pay.

Yes if you found another person to rent with you could both be entitled to the room in a shared house rate and combined that might just be enough to rent a 2 bedroom home.

PippaGirl_2

Lisa_27 wrote: »

If I move out I would be entitled to a room in a shared house which again are few and far between due to LHA changes. Have a look on www.spareroom.co.uk there are usually quite a few available. I have a few questions....

If I went through the council would I be paid full rent on a 1 bed flat/studio flat?
Could I move in with my Nan without it affecting her, she is in a 3 bed council house and receives some HB towards it?
If I found another person and rented a 2 bed house would LHA apply?

"If I went through the council" - I'm not sure what you mean by this? Are you on the council waiting list? I suspect the waiting list might be years long, they will give you an idea of the length of time you will be on the list waiting to be housed. Most councils now do not house people who they accept as homeless and have a duty to house (parents with children and vulnerable people) within social housing, instead they help them source privately rented accommodation. This is to discourage people from becoming homeless to try to get social housing. Plus it's not fair on people waiting patiently in the queue.

You would be entitled to shared room rate of LHA when renting a room privately depending on your income. This is the case wherever and whatever you rent within the private sector if you are under 35.

It might affect your Nan, depending on what other benefits she receives.

PippaGirl_2

HappyMJ wrote: »

You could move in with your nan. It would reduce her "bedroom tax" payment that she will soon be expected to pay.

If the Nan is a pensioner, the bedroom tax will not affect her and she would not have reduced HB for having numerous empty rooms.

midnight_express

If you moved in with your Nan she would have her HB reduced - non dependent reduction.

PippaGirl_2

midnight_express wrote: »

If you moved in with your Nan she would have her HB reduced - non dependent reduction.

Some people are protected from non dependent reductions which is why I said depending on what benefits the Nan receives as to the answer for her specifically. People who receive DLA or Attendence Allowance are protected for example. Without knowing the OP's Nan's other circumstances, it is impossible to say whether her HB or CTB would be affected.

BigAunty

Are you in employment or your mum's carer? How old are you?

Those who are single and without severe disabilities or dependents under the age of 35 are only entitled to the shared property rate of LHA, not the 1 bed rate.

You can go through the Direct Gov or local council website on behalf of your mum to find out the bedroom entitlement and LHA rate, then enter your details into the Turn2us online benefit calculator to get an overview of entitlements.

Is is the council's own rules that forbid other people living in the bungalows - i.e. a minimum age rule (for example, over 60s only) that is causing the issue? What does their social housing allocation policy say about this? Are there no 2 bed bungalows? Are there no 2 bed ground floor flats that come up on the choice based letting system, ones without internal stairs?

BigAunty

Lisa_27 wrote: »

...
If I found another person and rented a 2 bed house would LHA apply?

Of course! You'd get the shared property rate in the private sector if you chose to live in a shared property.

daimonde

PippaGirl wrote: »

Some people are protected from non dependent reductions which is why I said depending on what benefits the Nan receives as to the answer for her specifically. People who receive DLA or Attendence Allowance are protected for example. Without knowing the OP's Nan's other circumstances, it is impossible to say whether her HB or CTB would be affected.

as above the non-dep deduction may not apply depending on income, but it might not apply at all for 26weeks if you Nan is 65+ regardless of income

for non-dependant deductions see the link below, but be wary of the CTB ones, theyre quite possibly very different april onwards.

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/technical-guidance/rr2-a-guide-to-housing-benefit/what-you-can-claim-for/non-dependants/

Lisa_27

Sorry about the delay in reply, have had internet problems.

Currently I am my Mums carer, my stepdad is here too as is my younger sister who is usually at her boyfriends and my stepdad who doesn't do anything round the house and wouldn't cook etc if I left home but even if I am not made homeless the attitude of my Mother towards my feelings and the pressure I am under is too much. Get called selfish for daring to voice how I feel at the moment.

I have a lot to think about as it could be a 'out of the fire into the frying pan' situation. Eg if I move out my bills will increase and I may have to give up the voluntary work I do with horses and riding which may seem trivial to many but at the moment that is my form of a 'break' from reality and stress of day to day life.

Some people have the gym etc to escape, the horses are my escape and while it doesn't cost a great deal it is getting to the yard that could be the issue and I believe I need that 'escape' to prevent myself going off the rails. My doctor has even stated that he thinks I'd have had a breakdown by now if it wasn't for the few hours I spend there each week. So as you can see I really do need to consider what really is the best way forwards while I am out of work.

I have been offered a caravan which is avail all year (bar 6 weeks in Jan) at £75 a week excl bills would I get housing benefit on this?

Does anyone know the costs of heating and lighting a 2 bed caravan?

Lisa_27

BigAunty wrote: »

Is is the council's own rules that forbid other people living in the bungalows - i.e. a minimum age rule (for example, over 60s only) that is causing the issue? What does their social housing allocation policy say about this? Are there no 2 bed bungalows? Are there no 2 bed ground floor flats that come up on the choice based letting system, ones without internal stairs?

I haven't been able to locate the choice based lettings system website for this area but my Mum is living in a house which she once owned but sold to a mortgage rescue company and now rents it back so is classed as private not social housing.

They would I assume have to go on the social housing waiting list.