Living with friends...

oxcat1

Hello,

I currently live in a rented property with my husband. We have a combined income of £18,000 and I recieve DLA, and as a couple, working tax credit because of my own disabilities.

Our friend has recently separated from her husband, and lives in a rented flat with her daughter. She is financially independent and receives no benefits other than child benefits.

We are considering combining forces and moving into one larger rented property for us all, to enable me to receive additional help with my poor health and disabilities, and her with her childcare and general companionship.

Are there any immediate financial/benefits considerations? How do we ensure that we continue to be considered financially independent of each other for the sake of benefits calculations? Would this be classified as a property of multiple occupancy, or would some sort of subletting be preferable?

Obviously we haven't got as far as the minutiae of who buys the toilet roll!

Any thoughts, advice and considerations gratefully received - thank you!

pmlindyloo

Do you receive HB or CTB?

oxcat1

We don't receive HB, and I'm not sure what CTB is? We don't have any children, but my friend has her daughter and receives child benefit for her?

pmlindyloo

I remember you from your previous thread!

Did you come to any conclusions about whether your OH will give up work to care for you?

I am not sure how living with your friend and her daughter will help if they (your friend and your OH) both work full time.

The main reason I am asking is because if your husband is giving up work and you are claiming benefits then it might make renting a house rather difficult as many landlords are reluctant to rent to people on benefits. Plus, you have said that you really need some adaptions to the house to make your life easier.

Having said that it is not impossible.

If your OH gave up work and you claimed benefits then it might be possible for your friend to rent the house in her name and you become sub tenants/permitted occupiers.

Mmmm trying to think of a solution for you.

If you can manage with your OH and friend working then you would be able to pay 'rent' to your friend.

I hope someone else can help with this.

I am sure it is possible but with your level of needs, that you previously described, I think you might struggle to find a suitable house and sympathetic landlord.

Edit if you clarify the care situation and whether you would be receiving benefits it might help others.

Your DLA is not means tested so would not be affected if you did move in together. Neither would your tax credits. You and your friend would be treated quite separately.

oxcat1

Thanks for your reply, Lindy!

At the moment my friend is not working at all, and she will be looking ideally to work only school hours, to fit around her childcare. By contrast, my OH generally comes home at 8-10pm, so it would be quite a bit of additionally 'covered' time.

We did talk to a social worker about OH giving up work entirely, but I think it is something we don't want to pursue completely at this stage. Partly because the benefits situation is in so much flux that nobody can really predict, and partly because I really don't think he would enjoy it at all, and a miserable life with me is not that much further forward! The arrangement of sharing with a friend might enable him to go part-time though, perhaps offering the best of both?

Is there no danger of the tax credits people trying to see our finances as inextricably linked? I keep remembering phrases about "people that you live with as though you are married to them", and can't remember quite how far that has to be considered?! Obviously there would be one married couple and one single adult with a child, but would that be immediately clear to all the authorities?

pmlindyloo

As far as I am aware that would be absolutely no link with you and your friend as far as benefits are concerned.

I didn't relalise that your friend wasn't working at the moment so that might rule her out as regards getting a tenancy.

The only thing I can think of is enquiring at a few letting agencies and see if this is possible.

Sorry, not a lot of help I know.

Fire_Fox

If you are helping with childcare and she is acting a carer for you this may need to be declared, it may be deemed that you are not separate households or that you are working for one another and will be counted as if you received 'wages'.

oxcat1

Thanks again for all this help.

Today's bombshell is a letter from Motability saying that since my DLA allowance was stopped on 16/04/13, I have until 10/05 to return my car!

This is absolutely the first I know of it! I am in Hospital at the moment, and they know that as my husband telephoned to inform them and to ensure we didn't get into overpayments. There have been no other letters, and there is no explanation whatsoever about how or why my DLA has been stopped.

So stressful! Will try and call on Monday, but I am on a non-invasive ventilator most of the time at the moment so can't use the phone very easily, and if course I haven't got any paperwork or anything with me in hospital.

So worried!

Fire_Fox

oxcat1 wrote: »

Thanks again for all this help.

Today's bombshell is a letter from Motability saying that since my DLA allowance was stopped on 16/04/13, I have until 10/05 to return my car!

This is absolutely the first I know of it! I am in Hospital at the moment, and they know that as my husband telephoned to inform them and to ensure we didn't get into overpayments. There have been no other letters, and there is no explanation whatsoever about how or why my DLA has been stopped.

So stressful! Will try and call on Monday, but I am on a non-invasive ventilator most of the time at the moment so can't use the phone very easily, and if course I haven't got any paperwork or anything with me in hospital.

So worried!

Sorry to hear this, might be worth giving your husband Power of Attorney when you are next out so he can act on your behalf. The system seems to me very flexible, you can state was circumstancess you want it to be used and for what purpose, it's not a case of blanket taking over from you.

oxcat1

Thanks Fox - didn't know you could do that. He tends not to be as good with this stuff and he is very non-confrontational, which is never good when dealing with the DWP!

I was wondering whether they would let the hospital social worker deal with this for me on Monday? On the plus side, I am certainly surrounded by health care professionals who can vouch that my mobility needs have certainly not improved!

I just don't know how they can stop things without a reassessment? So worrying.

pmlindyloo

Don't worry. Your DLA is not stopped - it is suspended.

When you know your discharge date you inform them (might need a sick note which the hospital should provide) and your DLA is reinstated. You do not have to fill in any forms or reapply.

Obviously Motability think your DLA has stopped completely so you/OH needs to telephone them and explain the situation.