Is this possible?

mboro

Morning all,

I currently live with my Dad in a two bedroom house, It's rented from the council in my Dads name.

My 16 yo son has come home to live with me after being with his Dad for 7 years. My Dad, son and myself want to live together.

My question is can my dad apply for a 3 bed house in his name whilst I claim for my sons benefits? I have not claimed any benefits for these past 7 years.

Please advise.

Thanks.

Dunroamin

Will your son be remaining in education?

Horseunderwater

Of course that is possible, but I suspect getting a 3 bed social housing home could take some time. Ring and ask for an application form or whatever the system is these days.
To get the Benefits like child benefit and any tax credits for your son, you would need to get his Dad to relinquish those and then claim in your own right.
https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit/overview

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/ If you work at least 16 hours per week, you may also get working tax credits as well and if over 30 hours per week - you'd get even more allowance, if your wage is low enough.

mboro

Thanks for the headsup so soon......this morning I have contacted Child benefit office, they are sending out application forms...they say as soon as they recieve these, they will stop paying my ex.

Shall I apply for working tax credits now or wait till I recieve confirmation that I will be getting CB.

Yes, my son will be staying at his college, he has a year left.

Horseunderwater

Apply as soon as possible for tax credits that way you do not lose out.

lilacclaire

With regards to the 3 bed house, your council housing office should have a list of people looking to swap homes, some even do it online, you could look and see if anyone wants to swap from a 3 bed to a 2 bed, it would be probably be far quicker than going onto a waiting list.

mboro

Ohhh house swap, thats something I had not thought of looking into, thanks.:j

And I now agree that starting a claim for tax credits is the next thing.

Thanks.

**Patty**

I would also suggest a joint tenancy with your Dad.

In the event of the worst, the current arrangement leaves you with no right of tenancy succession.

paddedjohn

mboro wrote: »

Thanks for the headsup so soon......this morning I have contacted Child benefit office, they are sending out application forms...they say as soon as they recieve these, they will stop paying my ex.

Shall I apply for working tax credits now or wait till I recieve confirmation that I will be getting CB.

Yes, my son will be staying at his college, he has a year left.

Are you sure they said they would stop paying your ex? I've read on here a few times that they won't stop paying the other person and pay you unless they give up the claim or after a long drawn out process.

mboro

Paddedjohn the woman on the end of the phone said that as soon as they have recieved my claim then it would automatically stop for my ex's claom for CB. I questioned wether they needed proof that my son was now living with me, she said just to get the paper work in to them.
TBH I cant see them stopping his claim on account of my new claim, I think it is going to turn into a long drawn out process, oh happy days.

**Patty**

It's not quite that simple.

In effect, by making a (rightful) claim yourself, you are putting your Ex's claim into dispute.

What will happen is that they will then *investigate* as to who should receive the CB.

In our case, it took about 10 weeks.

It IS a lot faster if the other parent relinquishes the CB claim voluntarily.