Can we help her?

VictoriaBlyth

Hello,

Looking for some help here, as I am completely clueless

My daughter has recently lost her job and is claiming JSA and gets some housing benefit.
However, she is really struggling and we are fortunate enough to be able to bung her a few quid a week towards her bills, but would that get her into trouble with the benefits people? She is tied into another 4 months rental which the hb comes nowhere near covering and we want to make up the shortfall until she gets back into work.

Thanks for any advice.

sammyjammy

It is ok for her to be gifted small amounts of money whilst on benefits but if it is seen as a regular payment it could cause issues and be seen as income. It would be better to keep things cashless, perhaps load up a supermarket gift card for her to get her shopping or pay some of her bills directly from your account/card.

paddedjohn

Top up her gas/electric cards and get a student shopper card from Asda, you have one card she has one and you can put cash onto it any time you want.

VictoriaBlyth

Brilliant-thank you!

zaksmum

VictoriaBlyth wrote: »

Hello,

Looking for some help here, as I am completely clueless

My daughter has recently lost her job and is claiming JSA and gets some housing benefit.
However, she is really struggling and we are fortunate enough to be able to bung her a few quid a week towards her bills, but would that get her into trouble with the benefits people? She is tied into another 4 months rental which the hb comes nowhere near covering and we want to make up the shortfall until she gets back into work.

Thanks for any advice.

As long as it's only a few quid, how are the benefits people going to even know about it? You're hardly going to ring them to announce it.

Just take her supermarket shopping and pay for her trolley load...that's what I do if my kids are a bit short.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Gifts from family are disregarded in full.

Mojisola

sammyjammy wrote: »

It is ok for her to be gifted small amounts of money whilst on benefits but if it is seen as a regular payment it could cause issues and be seen as income.

It would be better to keep things cashless, perhaps load up a supermarket gift card for her to get her shopping or pay some of her bills directly from your account/card.

Housing_Benefit_Officer wrote: »

Gifts from family are disregarded in full.

HBO - even if they are regular payments? Some previous posters have found that regular payments that can be relied on has affected their means tested benefits whether they have come from family or other people.

sammyjammy - what's the difference between giving someone cash and money on a gift card?

pmlindyloo

It is common for parents to help out in situations like this.

I am sure Housing Benefit Officer is right but it is possible that any regular payments through the bank might be questioned.

To save any hassle I would keep everything in cash form/as suggested and don't make any regular payments through the bank account.

I am not sure but am wondering if in this situation (because she is still in a tenancy agreement ) she might be entitled to a Discretionary Housing Payment? Housing Benefit office, over to you!

missapril75

Voluntary payments intended for something unmet by the benefits system have traditionally been disregarded.

Paying the phone bill, shortfall between rent and HB levels etc.

Perhaps that is still the case.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

If she hasn't claimed Housing Benefit in the previous 52 weeks prior to becoming unemployed and claiming Housing Benefit she should get 13 weeks protection where her full rent would be paid.

As regards Discretionary Housing Payments - worth making a claim - they can only say no!

VictoriaBlyth

Thanks to everyone - really put my mind at rest:)

Now, another question. She had a 6month contract on her flat which ran out in May. She contacted the landlord and asked about renewing and he said yes, no problem. But she has had no contract, other than the original, has never seen him, and has had no contact, she just keeps paying rent.

Okay- I DO NOT want to mess this guy around, but as a matter of interest, what are her legal obligations? Is she tied into the second six months, even without a contract, or is it on a month by month basis if no contract exists.

I must say, this is curiosity value only at the moment, but would like to know where she stands.

Thanks:)