Housing benefit - very confused

AppleChai

My mum is on ESA due to on-going health issues. She currently lives with my (working) brother and they are struggling to pay the rent. I would like her to come and live with me, but I would struggle to pay for a two-bedroom place on my income alone - we will be fine if she continues to get her housing benefit.

What I want to know is if she would still get her ESA, housing benefit and council tax reduction while living with me? I have tried the government's benefits calculator but I find it all pretty confusing, especially when I have to fill it in for me and my mum.

Some info:

The rent would be £650 a month
The LHA in that area is £109 a week
I earn £22,000 a year before tax, which is about £1,450 a month after tax
I am not entitled to any benefits, as far as I know
Mum's condition isn't one that would need a carer or anything like that, but she can't work and probably won't work again (she is near retirement age)

My brother probably earns similar or perhaps more than me, and I think mum gets full housing benefit there. Is there any reason that would change if she lived with me?

Thank you in advance for any helpful replies

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Only if she was put on the Tenancy Agreement.

If she isn't on the Tenancy Agreement she won't get a penny Housing Benefit.

If you charge her rent as a sub tenant she won't get a penny as you are a close relative and legislation excludes Housing Benefit where close relatives reside in the same property.

AppleChai

We would be moving to a new place (I am currently in a 1-bed) with a joint tenancy. Thanks for the info

GwylimT

If you google a website called entitled to it will calculate what you would be entitled to.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

She would get the SRR rate of HB not the 1 bedroom rate.

What are the LHA rates in the area?

paddedjohn

Your mum and brother are struggling to pay their rent, he earns similar amount to you, she comes to live with you, surely you are only passing the problem around. How will you brother manage without your mums income?

GwylimT

Use this link and it will tell you exactly how much you would get in HB etc if anything.

http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx

Cate1976

I believe that if you & your Mum are joint tenants, your Mum could claim HB for half the rent. Only know this as I know someone who is living with their sister, my friend is on benefits but her sister works. They've got joint tenancy which means my friend is able to claim HB for half the rent. She does have a child though.

pmlindyloo

Cate1976 wrote: »

I believe that if you & your Mum are joint tenants, your Mum could claim HB for half the rent. Only know this as I know someone who is living with their sister, my friend is on benefits but her sister works. They've got joint tenancy which means my friend is able to claim HB for half the rent. She does have a child though.

It's the child that makes the difference! If it were 2 people on a joint tenancy then the OP's mum would only be entitled to the shared accommodation rate.

OP, what age is your mum?

Cate1976

Did think it was having the child that made difference for my friend. Just posted on off chance that OP & their Mum would each get 1 bed rate if they share a house.