Any benefits for paying parents' mortgage?

NJ04_2

Hi,
I have been paying mortgage on a house where my parents and little brother live for the past 6 years. I lived with them for 4 of those years but 2 years ago I got married and now live with my husband in a rented flat. The mortgaged property is under mine and my mum's name. My parents cannot afford much so I also help them out with groceries and petrol. Can my parents claim any housing benefits? My husband and I want to buy a house for ourselves soon but since I spend majority of my salary on my parents, we have to hold off on buying a house. Just trying to see ways of getting help for my parents which in turn will help me.
Thanks for reading!

pmlindyloo

Sorry, going to bombard you with questions before offering any help.

Are your parents currently claiming any benefits? What benefits are they?

If they are not claiming any benefits what are their circumstances?

Ages/age of children/anydisabilities/employed/salary/hours/savings?

If you live in a mortgaqed home then you would not be entitled to housing benefit but might be entitled to housing costs (Support for Mortgage Interest) but this would depend on their income/savings/benefits they claim.

nannytone_2

they cant claim housing benefit.
what other benefits do they receive?--

Housing_Benefit_Officer

They can't claim any Housing Benefit whatsoever.

You have a choice - let them stay in the property - meaning you can't move on with your life.

Let them buy you out if they are able to transfer the mortgage into their names.

Sell the property.

Or transfer the property into your name and wait 5 years to claim Housing Benefit.

They could claim Housing Benefit if they didn't own the property in the previous 5 years.

nannytone_2

Housing_Benefit_Officer wrote: »

They can't claim any Housing Benefit whatsoever.

but if they receive any means tested benefit, they could be entitled to some SMI as the mortgage is jointly in the mothers name

NJ04_2

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Sorry, going to bombard you with questions before offering any help.

Are your parents currently claiming any benefits? What benefits are they?

If they are not claiming any benefits what are their circumstances?

Ages/age of children/anydisabilities/employed/salary/hours/savings?

My mother gets tax credit as my brother is in full time education and her salary is less £16k. My father is unemployed. My brother is 18 yrs old and my parents have no savings.

Thanks for reading this!

pmlindyloo

NJ04 wrote: »

My mother gets tax credit as my brother is in full time education and her salary is less £16k. My father is unemployed. My brother is 18 yrs old and my parents have no savings.

Thanks for reading this!

The short answer is no, they can't get any help with the mortgage.

Long answer.

They can check to see if they get all their entitlements here:

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

If your mum works at least 24 hours a week then she should be claiming working tax credits too. Can she increase her hours? As a couple with dependent children they need to be working 24 hrs between them (one doing at least 16 hrs) to claim working tax credits.

Is there any reason your dad isn't working?

I'm not sure what you want to achieve.

Do you want your mum to start paying half the mortgage? If so, then they must increase their income.

If you want to get off the mortgage then the only way would be to sell up. Your mum and dad can't buy you out at the figures given I shouldn't think - depends on the value of the property and the size of the mortgage. You would need to investigate this with a mortgage broker. Is there equity in the property?

Pollycat

NJ04 wrote: »

My mother gets tax credit as my brother is in full time education and her salary is less £16k. My father is unemployed. My brother is 18 yrs old and my parents have no savings.

Thanks for reading this!

Does your Dad claim JSA?

Directgov website says (about JSA):

Also, to get income-based JSA you (and your partner if you have one):

• must usually work less than 24 hours a week (on average)
• must have £16,000 or less in savings

How many hours does your Mum work?

Is she getting Working Tax Credits as well as CTC for your brother?

pmlindyloo

Pollycat wrote: »

Does your Dad claim JSA?

Directgov website says (about JSA):


How many hours does your Mum work?

Is she getting Working Tax Credits as well as CTC for your brother?

Dad wouldn't be able to claim income based JSA as mother is working and earning £16000 a year.

Mojisola

Does your 18 year old brother have a job?

xylophone

It would seem that the answer is for the house to be sold and for your parents to rent?