Can I move in with my Nan

Roxy07

Good luck. Sounds a stressful situation.

Do you receive any benefits? it might help you.

BigAunty

Lisa_27 wrote: »

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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?

Are you still planning to care for your mum when you leave as or will you be seeking employment?

Are you under 35 and if so, what is the shared rate of LHA as I imagine this is the cap for accommodation costs for you (do check though). This means that you can live in any property of any cost or size but that's all you'll get and its up to you to make up any shortfall out of your other income (employment/benefits).

It is possible to get HB for a caravan.

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/housing_benefit_and_local_housing_allowance/mobile_homes_and_housing_benefit

You are better off asking on the housing forum about running costs of a caravan and their experiences of living in them.

AFAIK, the insulation on caravans is extremely poor, they are prone to damp due to the difficulty in heating them, ventilationt them, they are usually built on the premise of people living in them in for short periods of seasonal weather. A proper mobile home on a residential mobile home park should be better in terms of living quality.

Is this on an established site? Is it hooked up to the mains? Are you going to be able to get your mail delivered there? Is there council tax to pay?

Contact your council directly about this proposed caravan accommodation.

barnaby-bear

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.

Where on earth do you live - most people working or not under 35 and single live in shared houses or as a lodger - I've never had any problem or known anyone to - post a postcode/town and we'll find you several I'm sure!

Lisa_27

BigAunty wrote: »

Are you still planning to care for your mum when you leave as or will you be seeking employment?

Are you under 35 and if so, what is the shared rate of LHA as I imagine this is the cap for accommodation costs for you (do check though). This means that you can live in any property of any cost or size but that's all you'll get and its up to you to make up any shortfall out of your other income (employment/benefits).

It is possible to get HB for a caravan.

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/housing_benefit_and_local_housing_allowance/mobile_homes_and_housing_benefit

You are better off asking on the housing forum about running costs of a caravan and their experiences of living in them.

AFAIK, the insulation on caravans is extremely poor, they are prone to damp due to the difficulty in heating them, ventilationt them, they are usually built on the premise of people living in them in for short periods of seasonal weather. A proper mobile home on a residential mobile home park should be better in terms of living quality.

Is this on an established site? Is it hooked up to the mains? Are you going to be able to get your mail delivered there? Is there council tax to pay?

Contact your council directly about this proposed caravan accommodation.

I am under 35, I would no longer be caring for my Mum and will leave it to other family members or professional carers. I am currently looking for work as I do want to get back into work asap anyway. I was planning to get a room in a shared house once I have found work but may have to do it sooner.

I claim JSA and have been told that if I stay at home I could get carers which would bring the total to £100 pw.

The caravan is on a holiday site, have been told it isn't expensive to heat but I'm not convinced. It sounds great but not so great if I can't afford to heat it during the winter.

Lisa_27

barnaby-bear wrote: »

Where on earth do you live - most people working or not under 35 and single live in shared houses or as a lodger - I've never had any problem or known anyone to - post a postcode/town and we'll find you several I'm sure!

I am quite capable of searching for rooms myself and I have an account on Spare room. There are plenty of rooms listed and I have found many but most state no DSS.

BigAunty

Lisa_27 wrote: »

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.

Yes, they may get points for medical needs. Policies will change from area to area. For example, my local HA has 6 bands and applicants with mobility needs are the second highest.

Still not sure why she thinks the social housing landlord will only accept a housing application for her, and not take into account the other occupants, unless this is her way of getting rid of you and your sister or she is obsessed with securing just that one type of property, a 1 bed bungalow. Is she not open to a 2 or 3 bedroom ground floor flat, for example?

My local housing association application form asks details of who is currently in the property. (The council handed over all their stock to the HA, the council don't own any social housing stock).

Most councils or local housing associations have readily available allocation policies and application forms to download on their website. If they don't, contact them and ask them to send you the docs.

There are organisations out there that provide support to carers, contact them for assistance, it may help you with the pressure you are under and the communication issues you have with being the sole carer to your mum while your step-dad and sister do nothng.

BigAunty

Lisa_27 wrote: »

I am under 35, I would no longer be caring for my Mum and will leave it to other family members or professional carers. I am currently looking for work as I do want to get back into work asap anyway. I was planning to get a room in a shared house once I have found work but may have to do it sooner.

I claim JSA and have been told that if I stay at home I could get carers which would bring the total to £100 pw.

...

Given that most landlord's are highly resistent to HB claimants, you would be better off finding a job first before looking for accommodation as this will open up your chances by 90% plus.

Sorry, I assumed you claimed CA - you can earn £100 a week and still get CA - see the Direct Gov website for full info on this. Some Carers also qualify for Income support that bring up the income.

You don't need to live in the same property as the person you are caring for.

Go to the Turn2us online benefit calculator to identify the different scenarios and the income from them.

You could consider a 6 month tenancy in the caravan to see how you get on over spring and summer to see if you've got the appetite/income to pay for heating across winter. Ask on the housing forum for info on costs, pitfalls, etc.