Polish tenant

mickflynn39

Been to the Job Centre today for the Habitual Residency test. Provided details of all jobs and Birth Certificates of children etc. Answered a few questions and the person interviewing seemed more than happy with the answers and documentation provided. Result in about a week's time.

I'd be amazed if they found against her.

Teahfc

You are either a very nice considerate sort of person or you have something you are not telling us, I will run with gut feeling and opt for the first choice

mickflynn39

I must admit I was taken aback at the amount of money she could claim. So was she. She told me that they never had this kind of money even when her husband was working full time and she was working part time. My daughter works 6 days a week and only brings home £13000.

That said she is very vulnerable at the moment and the priority has to to be to stabilise her finances and make things right for her and the children. She intends to start work again in about 6 months once the baby is a bit older as she does have a good support network around her. She is not a scrounger.

sh1981

mickflynn39 wrote: »

I currently rent out a house to a Polish woman and her 3 children. She separated from her husband in January (I've only just found out).
When they were a couple I received the rent no problem. Now he is no longer supporting her and is living elsewhere (he is unemployed) she is struggling to pay me. Her children range in age from 2 weeks old up to 4 years old. She wants a divorce.

She thinks she will have to move out and go to the council for help as she can no longer afford to live in my house. I want to help her out and am prepared to drop the rent considerably if necessary so she can carry on living in the house.

She is unaware what benefits she may be entitled to. She has lived in the UK for 6 years and doesn't work. Anybody know what she is entitled to? I'm planning to go to the council with her to find out what her options are as her English is a bit limited but would appreciate any prior knowledge as to what she may be offered.

Under 'exceptional circumstances', nationality does not matter. You can be anything, European, non european, whatever, you can get Jobseekers Hardship Payment (I think that's what its called but look up hardship - jobseekers) go on https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/further-information search 'hardship' its at bottom.

Second thing, seach 'food banks' in the area. They provide hot meal.

sh1981

mickflynn39 wrote: »

Thanks everyone. I've used the MSE benefits calculator and come up with the following:

Child Tax Credit £168.84
Child Benefit £47.60
Income Support £72.40
Housing Benefit £103.85
Council Tax Benefit, enough to cover the full cost.

So this is a total of £1701.66 per month (excluding Council Tax Benefit as this is not really relevant as it will not now need to be paid). Housing benefit looks like it is capped at £450 per month in the town she lives in which is less than the rent. I suppose the Benefits Agency reckon that £450 should cover the rent for a suitable house given her family circumstances which it does if she moves to a terraced house instead of living in her current semi detached house.

So after Housing Benefit she should have £1251.66 per month (£288.84 per week) to live off. So if I drop the rent to the level of Housing Benefit she should be OK financially for the foreseeable future.

There does seem to be a problem which I need to investigate further. She has told me that one of the agencies involved in her benefits has said she doesn't qualify as she is not classed as having residency. This seems like it must be a mistake.

Having done the above calculations it would appear things are not too bad for her and nowhere near as bad as she thought. I just need to help her get things straightened out with the various benefits agencies as soon as possible.

Is her husband relevant in all this? They are separated but not yet divorced. He has taken all his belongings and is living elsewhere. Can she claim as above without him affecting things? It seems wrong that he is not liable for any of her living costs but getting him involved is not something she wants. Ideally she never wants to see him or have anything to do with him ever again.

First off, the amount you said is not for HER ONLY. It's for her children as well.

What they mean by residency is how long she has resided in the UK. Does she have a PR Card? You normally get given that by Home office. If not, she is eligible at lower rate I think (dont quote me on that though).

sh1981

mickflynn39 wrote: »

Yes they all are.

Was her husband british?

mickflynn39

He was Polish.

mickflynn39

She's not looking for a job at the moment so I don't think Jobseekers hardship payment applies. I'm going to see the council on Wednesday with her and will be looking to get a Discretionary Housing Payment off them to help her with her housing costs until her benefits come through. I'll also be looking at the Warm Homes Discount to help with her fuel bills. Should be able to get £140 towards these costs.

We'll also explore the possibility of getting a council house. She's asked me to draft a letter saying I'm going to evict her for non payment of rent to help her case.

sh1981

mickflynn39 wrote: »

He was Polish.

Then how did the children become british? one of the parents need to be british. anyway nevermind, i just realised it was an irrelevant question really.

sh1981

mickflynn39 wrote: »

She's not looking for a job at the moment so I don't think Jobseekers hardship payment applies. I'm going to see the council on Wednesday with her and will be looking to get a Discretionary Housing Payment off them to help her with her housing costs until her benefits come through. I'll also be looking at the Warm Homes Discount to help with her fuel bills. Should be able to get £140 towards these costs.

We'll also explore the possibility of getting a council house. She's asked me to draft a letter saying I'm going to evict her for non payment of rent to help her case.

Hardship payments apply also for income support. If shes not looking for work, perhaps due to having children to take care of, then Income Support applies, not ESA, not JSA. Income support also has Hardship payment.

Warm home discount is irrelevant and you should be looking at this in the end, it only waives off 150 quid in winter.

Why does she want a house if she was staying with you and paying you rent? You are going to draft a letter for her to cut your own foot with your own axe. Anyway that's upto you. If CTC, IS and HB is sorted out she can continue renting from you. You could lower the rent and give her a job to help around the house such as cleaning. That willl give her a 'job'. If she works less than 16 hours a week, which it would be well under that if she helps you got 1 hour a day, she can stay on the income support OR get working tax credits. That way you will be happy, she will be happy, and the house that the council might provide can go to someone who doesnt have a nice person like you to rent from.