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smartysaver

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pmlindyloo

From what you have said you seemed to have been doing everything perfectly by the book.

It is possible that someone will come to check your living arrangements and then the decision about whether you are living together as man and wife' (what they are probably looking at) may go to a decision maker.

A few things they may look at (but by no means an exhaustive list)

How long has he been there?

Where was he living before?

Do you share bank accounts?

Are you viewed as a couple by other people?

What are his future intentions?

Any evidence you may have to support these things would be good.

So,
your bank statements to show you pay the rent and council tax
your utility bills
evidence of his previous address
have you got a boyfriend that would write a letter saying that you are in a relationship?

Hopefully others can add to this.

Usually we would say evidence that you do not share food/spend time together but in your situation this is not helpful.

As an aside your friend should try to get a place as a lodger/room in a shared house. He would be entitled to the shared accommodation rate of local Housing Allowance and Council Tax Support. As he is on JSA he could enquire at the council about a Deposit Bond Scheme where they guarantee any damages to the landlord but no money changes hands.

In the long run this would be a better arrangement all round.

He could start looking for some accommodation and ask about the Deposit Bond scheme. This would be a good indication of his future intentions.

smartysaver

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RAS

He absolutely HAS to make applications to move into other shared housing close to work whilst he is in the hostel and if he moves in with you. And he needs to move as soon as he has a place available.

I would strongly advise that he gets his own basic bank account (he can ask his probation officer for help identifying an account that would work).

Otherwise I think you are setting yourself up for real problems.

pmlindyloo

smartysaver wrote: »

Thanks for your reply. I guess my worry is that from the outside looking in, I guess it could potentially look suspicious due to circumstances. I have allowed him to use a spare bank account of mine that I wasn't using. I let his employers make payments into it and also JSA. He didnt have a bank account when he left prison. It was closed due to inactivity. He always withdrew his JSA from a paypoint/post office up until he started working. He needed account details for his work pay to go into but he can't open a bank account as he has no fixed address. He has no utility bills here - the only thing that links him to being here is the council tax bill and his probation letters, so yeah... I gave him bank account details and allowed him access to the card to make withdrawals. I could verify that its not joint and statements will show the only money coming in was his... But I don't know that that is enough. I provide for him, I cook his evening meals sometimes and I guess we do spend 3 or 4 evenings a week in eachothers company as you do with living in such close promiximity. It's a fine line as I do do a lot more for him because he's a friend and I care. I do feel slightly responsible for him because ive offered him a way out of the position he was in before and I really do want him on the right track.

There will be evidence of his previous address', I'll have him dig some stuff out, all bills are still in my name. Nobody would have any reason to view us as a couple, we don't do a great deal together, we don't have any physical contact if we are going places and friends/family know we are friends not lovers.

I didn't really know there were other options/avenues for help so ill look into it further. I just struggle to understand how he can be accommodated AND work. Once he's working, housing benefit will stop and the shared accommodation is left for him to pay. It was extortionate at the hostel which is shared accommodation £160 a week! Even if he could manage to pay it from wages I think he'd struggle to continue traveling to work!

X

The hostel prices are not comparable with shared accommodation in the private sector.

If you look on your local council website under local housing allowance (shared room/accommodation rate) you will see how much housing benefit he would be entitled to. It won't be a huge amount but should cover his rent. Whilst he is on JSA he will be entitled to Council Tax Support so should get most of his council tax paid. (often it is included in lodgings)

To be fair, living as a young single person on JSA is difficult and I do respect your desire to help your friend.

If you were in a two bed place then you could make a lodger's agreement and he would still be entitled to HB at the shared accommodation rate as well as his JSA. This at least would reimburse you. But this isn't viable. Your council house and the security it affords is not something to be given up lightly.

Has your friend any family or friends who could help out whilst he is unemployed?

He should be very proactive with finding work, even taking on 2 part time jobs if necessary. With his salary, even at minimum wage, he should be able to manage to rent a room.

As much as you want to help, sharing a one bed place, funding him and paying extra council tax cannot be easy. Please reflect on whether you are enabling him not to get a job (any job) or find alternative accommodation as he can continue living with you for free. (Please don't take offence - he may be a really lovely chap - just playing devil's advocate )

Edit:

If your friend is 25 yrs + and gets a job (or 2) and works 30 hrs a week he may also be eligible for working tax credit if he is on a low wage.

ArtoDeeto

Let us be honest - IF you are asking re benefits you could have cut out the massive story (sorry to sound crass)

smartysaver wrote: »

I have offered my friend (male) to stay with me until he gets himself on his feet.

You are going to get the Heebi Geebies because, let's face it, if you walk in and tell that story it looks suspect (not saing it isn't true). BTW it doesn't matter if he/she is male/female - you, let's face it, are raising red flags. Prove to them you are not a 'couple' and all will be well.

Out of interest are you claiming ANY benefits?

Whiteknight

smartysaver wrote: »

...

I have offered my friend (male) to stay with me until he gets himself on his feet.

He was stuck in a vicious circle as he knew that once he got a job, he would have to leave the accomodation as he would no longer be entitled to housing benefit and he couldnt afford the £160 per week it was costing. However he couldnt afford to rent privately until he started earning some pennies via getting a job. The circle meant he wasnt overly confident about getting a job and he would then have nowhere to live.

I did what any friend would do and i offered to put him up in my home only IF/WHEN he got a job so he could continue to work with a roof over his head and the plan would be that he would save his wages to get a deposit and a months rent together to rent his own place. With this motivation he quickly got himself a job (albeit temp work, but with a view to becoming permanent) he put a stop to the JSA and HB, and i brought him into my home. He was sleeping on the sofa for a few weeks whilst going out to work. I did everything correctly, I didnt add him onto the tenancy as he was not not responsible for the rent payments or any say over the property for that matter (I was), however he was 'living' with me and he was more than a guest staying 3/4 nights a week...it so i declared him on my council tax. I never asked him for 1p, however he gave me a token of around £30 twice during the period. He worked for about 4 weeks and lost the job - the contract had ended due to no fault of his own - this led him back on JSA.
Thanks x

I think it would have been much better if you had helped him find something himself such as a shared house or bedsit that would have been within the price range of any housing benefit or wages rather than take him into your one bedroomed place.

How was he originally getting his JSA paid and why let him use your bank account, I would assume he had an account of some sort before his spell in prison could this not have been used?

I have highlighted something you wrote originally - where is he sleeping now?

And to be considered living together for benefit purposes you don't need to be lovers!