Housing Benefit 'Extra Income'

eeveehoward

So my OH is going to claim HB for us from September 1st.

Our income will be my Student Loan/Grant, so I know we will be eligible for the full LHA 1-bed rate for our area. However, I turned 21 in April, and every month my Father sends me £300pm via PayPal as part of a £6,000 cash birthday present.

I've read contradicting stories on the web about ether to claim this, and if you do claim it, then what evidence you need to prove that this is a voluntary payment and not a work payment. And also, there are contradicting articles about wether it affects your claim negatively or not.

The PayPal transactions have his name, which matches my birth certificate, and he could probably email to confirm that these are part of a birthday present. He lives in America, so can't exactly pop around and confirm this in person.

I just want to know if anyone else has had extra money coming in similar to my own income. The money has so far been used only for a deposit and first months rent for our new property. So I haven't just gone out and spent the money willy-nilly. I don't want this HB claim to be filled out wrong, as I can't afford any errors. We're making an appointment with Barnet council next week to hand in the papers/ask questions, but I would really like to be informed before I go in.

Any help would be appreciated

merlin68

Normally students cant claim hb. Unless you have children.

HappyMJ

Do you have children?

eeveehoward

No I do not have children.

And my OH can claim HB as he is not a student. A property can access HB with a student partner as long as the non-student partner claims. I've been through it before. I was on ESA and my partner a full-time student, and we still got HB as I claimed.

What my biggest issue is the extra money I have coming in from my father. And if this should be claimed. And if claimed, then will it affect my OH's claim negatively.

Any help would be great.

NYM

I think you would need to declare this 'other income' when you apply. They will make a decision based on your circumstances.

I have read somewhere..can't remember where, that financial gifts from a Charity affect any means tested benefits. I assume HB is means tested ?

sammyjammy

I'm not sure what you mean by should it be claimed but it should definitely be declared, i believe they will class it as income, it doesn't matter whether it is earned income or not. Even if you believe it doesn't count you should declare all the facts and let them decide.

Topcat1982

Gifts are not counted as income

NYM

Topcat1982 wrote: »

Gifts are not counted as income

Then there shouldn't be any problem declaring it on the HB claim form

eeveehoward

Thanks guys. And by claimed I mean declared.

We were going to declare it, but just didn't really know how it would affect the HB claim. Even with the extra £300 a month, we will only reach £13k income, so should be 100% within the limits of claiming the full 1-bed rate for LHA which will be a lifesaver.

Again, thanks for all the advice

tomtontom

If the whole £13K is counted as income you will not receive anywhere near the full LHA rate.

Is your partner not able to work?

eeveehoward

My partner is looking for work. HB is only a temporary solution until he is able to find full-time work. He recently graduated with a degree in Zoology, and jobs related to his field are few and far-between.

My OH didn't look at a Benfit calculator. We will get around £217pw towards housing (LHA is £260pw). The £300pm is disregarded as it is a 'voluntary payment' apparently, as it is a regular payment from family for non-work reasons. Just found that out via entitledto calculator. However, I won't take their word as law as councils seem to have their own systems with things.

£600 is taken off my student loan/grant (for books/travel), which leaves me with £9.5k for the year.

So, in the end, we're paying £83pw in rent. Achievable, but purse pinching. Fingers crossed they don't include the family payments as that's my food money.


Again, thanks for the help