Housing Benefit and short absences from home

SquiddlyDiddly

Can you claim Housing Benefit if you visit relatives once a week, and are away from home for one or two nights a week?

I visit my 80-year-old father once a week, and often stay over at weekends as he cannot walk.

Can I be convicted of fraud if I do this?

Orville

SquiddlyDiddly wrote: »

Can you claim Housing Benefit if you visit relatives once a week, and are away from home for one or two nights a week?

I visit my 80-year-old father once a week, and often stay over at weekends as he cannot walk.

Can I be convicted of fraud if I do this?

I wouldn't have thought so. Can't say for sure though, but if you spend less time at your fathers then you do at yours i don't see a problem.

jacques_chirac

SquiddlyDiddly wrote: »

Can you claim Housing Benefit if you visit relatives once a week, and are away from home for one or two nights a week?

I visit my 80-year-old father once a week, and often stay over at weekends as he cannot walk.

Can I be convicted of fraud if I do this?

That would be fine. As long as the home you claim for remains your main residence you are eligible for HB.

Jobseeeker

no i think thats fine. Some people work night shifts don't they you don't have to be at your home every single night

SquiddlyDiddly

Thanks everyone! :T

I've had a G4S van behaving oddly outside my flat and I've been trying to think of what I might have done wrong.

The only think I can think of is that I am sometimes away at weekends and I do high profile voluntary work for the Church of England. But this has been cleared with the DWP.

paddedjohn

You should be ok, after all some prisoners still get HB while they are doing their sentence.

fluffymovie

I'm not aware of any councils using G4S for their fraud surveillance.

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

http://www.g4s.com/en-GB/United%20Kingdom/What%20we%20do/Services/Investigative%20services/Investigation%20Solutions/
This might provide an answer? I would not be too careful.
You might have been reported. I would get Welfare Rights and establish facts on your Case. Good luck.

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

http://www.g4sspecialisttraining.com/training-courses/course-outline/surveillance-operator/
More proof?

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

Plus we have a Surveillance State.
Another factor to factor in is Benefits Bashers and their Behaviour which more likely to report what they view as suspicious behaviour even if totally innocent.
Size up your risks. Best of luck and take care.xx

jacques_chirac

SquiddlyDiddly wrote: »

Thanks everyone! :T

I've had a G4S van behaving oddly outside my flat and I've been trying to think of what I might have done wrong.

The only think I can think of is that I am sometimes away at weekends and I do high profile voluntary work for the Church of England. But this has been cleared with the DWP.

G4S are a massive organisation - they could be doing anything from telecoms to gardening.

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver wrote: »

Plus we have a Surveillance State.
Another factor to factor in is Benefits Bashers and their Behaviour which more likely to report what they view as suspicious behaviour even if totally innocent.
Size up your risks. Best of luck and take care.xx

Your responses are not in the least bit helpful. There is no 'risk' in the OP's situation.