Housing benefit if living with a family member?

Chloe2932

GwylimT wrote: »

If you are concerned about their finances why are you choosing to take two rooms and not paying the usual rate for these?

I am concerned about their finances but I am more concerned about my son being homeless.

Chloe2932

Unfortunately because I am only 21 I get a lower amount

missbiggles1

baza52 wrote: »

its obviously 400 a month.
Why would the family friends offer of 400 a month for 1 room seem good if OP was paying 800 per month per room.

Nothing obvious about it. A lone parent with one child would be claiming far more than £400 pcm, even if not as much as £400pw!

HappyMJ

Chloe2932 wrote: »

Yes I have. I lived here from the ages of 14-17 and did not pay rent (as was in education and she was getting child benefit for me) there was an issue between me and my parents and I went to live with her (she had no legal custody/guardianship over me, it was just a private arrangement I would live with her)

I then went to live with friends in shared and was working full time and then went to university a few years later so moved out of shared house and away to a different town. When I fell pregnant I got a transfer to the university in my home town so moved back in with her. I was getting student finance at the time (no benefits) and paid her £40 a week. When I was 7 months pregnant I decided to quit uni and then shortly after I moved in to the private rented flat. At that time they were working so money wasn't as big of an issue to them as it is now but my granddads health deteriorated so he had to retire earlier than he wanted too (and refuses to claim DLA or careers allowance)

So I have lived here when I was legally a child rent free, and lived here for a period after that, not rent free but paying the rent myself and a considerably less amount to what they are asking for now.

Well now that's muddied the waters. You're grandparents had a responsibility to look after you that's why they were entitled to the child benefit. You'll find it difficult to claim and you will need help from an advisor to word your application in the right way. I'd expect you wouldn't get housing benefit and if you do it will be severely delayed (by months and not weeks whilst they clarify the situation). Would your grandparents ask you to leave if you weren't paying any rent or will you use every penny of your income support and child tax credits to pay the rent?

As has been said you should never have left you last place but you are young and probably didn't know that...it's too late now. I think being rehoused will happen eventually you'll be housed by the council in hostel type conditions. You'll get a room which you'll be expected to share with your child for a while until you can get yourself housed either in the private rental market or by a social landlord. As caz posted earlier speak to council they can point you to a credit union who can lend you the deposit and first months rent guaranteed by council which you repay in 6 or 12 monthly instalments interest free. What ever is affordable.

HappyMJ

Chloe2932 wrote: »

Unfortunately because I am only 21 I get a lower amount

Did you look at the link? Over 18 Lone parent £73.10 per week which multiplied by 52 and divided by 12 is £316 per month. Speak to the DWP.

missbiggles1

Chloe2932 wrote: »

Unfortunately because I am only 21 I get a lower amount

The lower rate of IS for lone parents only applies to under 18s, not to those who are under 21.

fed_up_and_stressed

Chloe2932 wrote: »

I am concerned about their finances but I am more concerned about my son being homeless.

Can your son not share with you till you find your own place and then they could potentially let out the other ?

pmlindyloo

On Monday you must visit the council and make an application for homelessness. They have a duty to give you a statement on your application as you have a priority need (a dependent child)

However, you may have made yourself intentionally homeless by leaving your previous rented accommodation before you legally had to.

Despite this, because you have a dependent child they should find you temporary accommodation whilst you find accommodation yourself.

Having said all that temporary accommodation is not great and you may be better off staying where you are for the moment.

The council do have a duty to give you advice and help you find accommodation by offering financial help through the Deposit Bond scheme for example.

You can apply for HB but since you are living with grandparents you are not a tenant. You can receive HB as a lodger but it is possible that you and your grandparents will be considered as members of the same household and therefore not eligible for HB.

None of this will be easy but by going to the council you will be 'in the system'. At the very least you can apply to go on the housing register.

In view of your grandparents situation you need to get a job as a priority. Have you got child care?

Getting a job will mean that you then have more options - staying with your grandparents and helping out financially or finding a place yourself.

Is the father of your child helping out financially?

If the council do not carry out their obligations (and some don't) then go to CAB (choose one with a housing specialist) or telephone Shelter for some help/support.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Chloe2932 wrote: »

Yes I have. I lived here from the ages of 14-17 and did not pay rent (as was in education and she was getting child benefit for me) there was an issue between me and my parents and I went to live with her (she had no legal custody/guardianship over me, it was just a private arrangement I would live with her)

I then went to live with friends in shared and was working full time and then went to university a year later so moved out of shared house and away to a different town. When I fell pregnant I got a transfer to the university in my home town so moved back in with her. I was getting student finance at the time (no benefits) and paid her £40 a week. When I was 7 months pregnant I decided to quit uni and then shortly after I moved in to the private rented flat. At that time they were working so money wasn't as big of an issue to them as it is now but my granddads health deteriorated so he had to retire earlier than he wanted too (and refuses to claim DLA or careers allowance)

So I have lived here when I was legally a child rent free, and lived here for a period after that, not rent free but paying the rent myself and a considerably less amount to what they are asking for now.

You will need to explain this to your Local Housing Benefit Department together with clarification from your Grandparents that they have previously rented rooms to lodgers. They will then decide if there is liability to pay Housing Benefit or if they consider the tenancy contrived to take advantage of the Housing benefit scheme or if it is a non commercial agreement.

Would your Grandparents evict you if no rent was paid?

Cheeky_Monkey

fed_up_and_stressed wrote: »

Can your son not share with you till you find your own place and then they could potentially let out the other ?

Of course he can, he's only 9 months old for goodness sake.

It's the obvious solution but I get the feeling that's not what the OP or her grandparents want to hear.