Can a disabled adult living in same household as parents claim housing benefit?

arrazello

Hello Forum. I hoped some one on the forum might be able to help with following concerns.
I have a severely disabled son currently in post-16 education who will be 18 this year. I understand that I am able to continue receiving child tax credits until he leaves education. A meeting with the adult services yesterday (as he is beginning that transition process) left me with some concerns.

Without a miracle, my son is never going to work or be independent, he does not speak, I still have to toilet him etc. I understand that after I stop receiving child tax credits, my son should be eligible for employment and support allowance at the support rate. At the current rates, and with the loss of child benefit, this will leave us 60.00 a week worse off. That's a lot of money over a month.

My partner works full-time at minimum wage. We are in the private renting sector, which we all know is way more expensive than it should be. Now I am becoming concerned that we will not be able to meet our rent when the time comes that our finances change.

I am wondering if my son would be able to claim housing benefit for a proportion of the rent? And if so, how is this even possible as I understand that he would have to be a tenant himself? My partner and I are the tenants.

Please help as this concern, albeit not immediate, is causing me worry as we want our son to stay at home with us.

I cannot even get a part-time job because of my sons frequent illnesses/times when he is home from school. No employer would put up with me! I don't see that changing much in the future.

mummyroysof3

I don't think he can. Does he get dla? Do you claim carers allowance?

arrazello

Yes, he gets DLA at highest rates, mobility and care components. And I get Carers Allowance.

fed_up_and_stressed

You and your partner would claim housing benefit and your son would be listed as a non dependent.

No deduction in entitlement is made for a non-dependant who is:
under 25 and getting income support, income-related jobseeker’s allowance or income-related employment and support allowance or on certain youth training courses.

arrazello

Thanks 'fed up and stressed'
That is at least some comfort but does not help with the 240+/month, we will lose from our current income. We get a proportion of rent from HB currently. I suppose the loss of CTC would be taken into account when assessing how much to give us in the future and we may get more HB.

StormyWeather_2

Put your figures and circumstances in one of the benefit calculators.

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

pmlindyloo

If your son continues in non advanced education then you can continue claiming child tax credit until he is 20.

Have you investigated whether there might be an appropriate course for him?

Have you got a support worker or an organisation that may help with this?

cattermole

I'm surprised with all the add on premiums to ESA support if he is severely disabled you would be worse off than with child tax credits if your husband is working full time.

I do the calculator as suggested.

arrazello

Thanks.
The person who came out to talk me through the changes involved in the adult transition said that he'd try to access some advice on benefit help for us but we might not fall into their remit yet because my son is not yet 18. When he is 18, their service can provide advice.

I'll try the calculator.

And I was unaware of premiums. I thought it was 106.50. This is less than I currently receive for tax credits, which also have premiums for severely disabled children.

fluffymovie

We would use the lower or if it happens, nil income from CTC when calculating your award. However, it may get a bit worse than this I'm afraid.

Housing benefit awards are made up of a comparison between income and what the Govt says you need, called your applicable amount.

Whilst you receive Child Benefit for your son, he is considered a dependant and we allow an extra premium for him in your applicable amount. Basically, the amount of money you need to live on, is higher.

As soon as CHB stops, you lose that premium and so the comparison between income and applicable amount may also decrease meaning loss of HB.

I would strongly urge you to consider making an application for Discretionary Housing Payments as soon this becomes clearer.

Indie_Kid

It would be a total of £121.65 per week for ESA.