Housing benefits for couples

Diary

Have you met in person yet? It is relevant.

societys_child

Have you met in person yet?

Was just wondering the same.
On the interweb, maybe . . .

BigAunty

Diary wrote: »

Have you met in person yet? It is relevant.

How is this relevant for a housing benefit claim?

Diary

This thread isn't just about housing benefit, the op has stated his girlfriend expects to come on a tourist visa and start work. My question was relevant to this misguided assumption.

HappyMJ

james_grainger wrote: »

My girlfriend currently lives in america but wants to move to the UK and live with me. I live in a 1 bedroom council house which is paid for by housing benefits because I claim DLA. If she was to move in with me how would that affect housing benefits?

Would she need to contribute towards rent?

thanks!

She won't be able to live here. She needs a visa.

From early next year people living in a property without the right to rent will be evicted and they'll be evicted without the need to go to court.

She can visit you as a visitor and stay as your guest for the length of her visa and your housing benefits will not be affected.

However, if she presents herself to immigration at the airport and states she will live with you as your partner her visitor visa may be declined and she'll be put on the next plane back.

jobbingmusician

James, I thought I'd post because it might be helpful to have things set out in a straightforward way.

It does sound from your first post as if you think your GF can just come and live with you, and I'm afraid it really isn't as simple as that. Americans aren't allowed simply to come over here and get a job, unless they have particular skills needed in this country. People from the EC are. So the nationality of your GF is very relevant.

Even if your GF came over as a visitor, without working, and you got married, it's not as simple as that! (I am saying this just in case you had thought of marriage as a possible solution to the problem.) There is some helpful information on the idea of your GF coming to live with you on http://www.oneplusone.org.uk/content_topic/married-or-not/married-civil-partnered-or-not-the-legal-differences/immigration/

Housing_Benefit_Officer

If she has no leave to remain and no right to live or claim benefits in this country then for Housing Benefit purposes she won't be classed as a member of the household even if she was. If she is entering as a tourist then she has no right to remain or work in this country.