Housing Benefit query

averageguy11

My son is 25 unemployed and currently lives with me and is likely to have a job in September. He thinks he can move out and claim housing benefit to help pay the rent (it will be a room in a house and his income will be pretty low). However I didn't think this was possible? Am I wrong?

As an aside, the house that we live in will be sold sometime this year as part of a marriage breakup and I will have to look for somewhere to rent. Could this be treated as him then being homeless?

TIA

Jobseeeker

Yes its possible. Depends on his income.

The homelessness thing is irrelevant. Sounds like he has a room lined up so he won't want the council to provide emergency accomodation in a hostel. It won't affect how much housing benefit he gets.

SJI85

averageguy11 wrote: »

My son is 25 unemployed and currently lives with me and is likely to have a job in September. He thinks he can move out and claim housing benefit to help pay the rent (it will be a room in a house and his income will be pretty low). However I didn't think this was possible? Am I wrong?

If he's on a low income of course it's possible. Why wouldn't it?

JaneDoeJohnDoe

If he's living within your home & you sell it from under him & give him a written letter stating the fact that he will have nowhere to live as you are not prepared to "take him with you" as such, then he may be considered homeless by local council. BUT, unless he falls into specific groups (ie has a dependent child living with him, or is on something like DLA/ESA etc) the council will not consider him a priority at age 25 & he will get little or no help from them except a list of private lettings. As for getting full HB - check the rules carefully as they have changed recently. Check with CAB or online.

BigAunty

Those under the age of 35 are entitled to the shared accommodation rate of the Local Housing Allowance (housing benefit calculated in the private sector) if their income is low enough. The local council website will indicate the maximum shared rate of LHA and the Turn2us online benefit calculator will take into account his income and detail if he qualifies for it, plus anything like working tax credits (payable to those aged 25 and over who are single, without dependents or disabilities and work 30 hours or more a week) or council tax reduction.

See the Shelter website for information on homelessness to understand how a local council assesses an application. In England,for some years now, those who are homeless and in priority need (such as having dependents, disabilities) are no longer guaranteed social housing. The council can meet its obligations by offering settled accommodation which can include a private tenancy. If he is not considered in priority need then they have less obligations - the Shelter website will detail them.

averageguy11

Jobseeeker wrote: »

Yes its possible. Depends on his income.

The homelessness thing is irrelevant. Sounds like he has a room lined up so he won't want the council to provide emergency accomodation in a hostel. It won't affect how much housing benefit he gets.

Yes he does have a room lined up

averageguy11

SJI85 wrote: »

If he's on a low income of course it's possible. Why wouldn't it?

It was just something in the back of my mind that he would have to be deliberately made homeless to qualify....but if that's not the case, then good

averageguy11

JaneDoeJohnDoe wrote: »

If he's living within your home & you sell it from under him & give him a written letter stating the fact that he will have nowhere to live as you are not prepared to "take him with you" as such, then he may be considered homeless by local council. BUT, unless he falls into specific groups (ie has a dependent child living with him, or is on something like DLA/ESA etc) the council will not consider him a priority at age 25 & he will get little or no help from them except a list of private lettings. As for getting full HB - check the rules carefully as they have changed recently. Check with CAB or online.

Thanks...I'd be reluctant to write such a letter because it wouldn't be true...thankfully as it's just a room in a house he is looking for then it seems it won't be a problem (subject to income requirements)

averageguy11

BigAunty wrote: »

Those under the age of 35 are entitled to the shared accommodation rate of the Local Housing Allowance (housing benefit calculated in the private sector) if their income is low enough. The local council website will indicate the maximum shared rate of LHA and the Turn2us online benefit calculator will take into account his income and detail if he qualifies for it, plus anything like working tax credits (payable to those aged 25 and over who are single, without dependents or disabilities and work 30 hours or more a week) or council tax reduction.

See the Shelter website for information on homelessness to understand how a local council assesses an application. In England,for some years now, those who are homeless and in priority need (such as having dependents, disabilities) are no longer guaranteed social housing. The council can meet its obligations by offering settled accommodation which can include a private tenancy. If he is not considered in priority need then they have less obligations - the Shelter website will detail them.

Thank you ,,that's very informative