Am I entitled to housing benefit and can I rent jointly with daughter?

[Deleted User]

Hi

I hope you can answer me query!

Myself and my partner are both receiving a state pension but receive no other forms of income.we are shortly going to sell our house but the small amount of equity £15000 will be used to pay debts. We have no other savings.

We are planning on renting a private property with out daughter and son in law who have two young children. The plan is to rent a house big enough for all of us and I will help with childcare as they both work full time.

Under these circumstance would me and my partner be entitled to housing benefit and it be allowed under the above conditions?

Many thanks

June

rogerblack

In principle, yes, such an arrangement could be legal.
However - there are many ways to set it up - and only some of them will work from a HB perspective.

In general - if you are not likely to be evicted if you stop paying rent - there is a real question that the tenancy involved would be 'commercial' - and attract HB - similarly if it's not at market rates.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

If you are named as joint tenants on the tenancy agreement with yur daughter and son-in-law then yes you can claim Housing Benefit.

If your names are not on the Tenancy Agreement then you would be treated as non dependents and you wouldn't get Housing Benefit as you would have no rental liability.

If your daughter and son-in-law were the tenants and you moved in with them trying to claim as sub-tenants or lodgers then no Housing Benefit would be paid as you would be residing with close relatives.

missbiggles1

Deleted_User wrote: »

Hi

I hope you can answer me query!

Myself and my partner are both receiving a state pension but receive no other forms of income.we are shortly going to sell our house but the small amount of equity £15000 will be used to pay debts. We have no other savings.

We are planning on renting a private property with out daughter and son in law who have two young children. The plan is to rent a house big enough for all of us and I will help with childcare as they both work full time.

Under these circumstance would me and my partner be entitled to housing benefit and it be allowed under the above conditions?

Many thanks

June

Depending on the state pension you receive, you could investigate applying for Pension Credit.

rogerblack

If anyone in the house qualifies for PIP or DLA at the required rates, and the parents are caring for them >35 hours a week (caring can include watching over) - then they may also be eligible for the carers allowance premium on pension credit - which may boost the entitlement to pension credit bringing it into payment if pension is just too much otherwise.
Also - attendance allowance for them if one or both of them are having trouble with daily tasks around the house.

[Deleted User]

Hi

Thanks for your replays so far!

No we're not entitled to pip or dla as fortunately where both fit and healthy.

Is there anything that would preclude us from claiming HB in the scenario described? I'm concerned that because were 'voluntarily' selling our home in order to pay of debts we would be excluded from any help with rent?

Thanks again

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Deleted_User wrote: »

Hi

Thanks for your replays so far!

No we're not entitled to pip or dla as fortunately where both fit and healthy.

Is there anything that would preclude us from claiming HB in the scenario described? I'm concerned that because were 'voluntarily' selling our home in order to pay of debts we would be excluded from any help with rent?

Thanks again

You can't be refused Housing Benefit for selling your home. They may look at how you disposed of any capital so keep receipts and detailed records just in case - although the capital limit for Housing Benefit is £16,000.