Claiming housing benefit without tenancy agreement

my_name

I have a bit of a complicated situation. After a separation I've been claiming housing benefit as a self employed single parent. As it is right now I am living in a flat that my ex is renting and she is living in the place we used to rent together (it's closer to her work and this flat is closer to the school). I wanted to rent the place myself but because I'm self employed,low income, single parent and bad credit, i was refused
Unfortunately the contract I am on, where the ex now lives, can not be renewed. I'm now going to be stuck without a tenancy agreement without my name on it and therefore have no proof of the rent I pay. Any idea of I will still be able to claim housing benefit without this info?
Thinks in advance

nannytone_2

so at the moment, you are claiming housing benefit for the home your ex lives in?

is she claiming housing benefit for the property you live in or is she paying the rent for you?

marliepanda

It'd be difficult as currently you have no liability for the rent. If you stopped paying, the landlord could only chase the ex, not you.

tomtontom

nannytone wrote: »

so at the moment, you are claiming housing benefit for the home your ex lives in?

is she claiming housing benefit for the property you live in or is she paying the rent for you?

And who is the child living with?

This all sounds a bit of a mess!

my_name

nannytone wrote: »

so at the moment, you are claiming housing benefit for the home your ex lives in?

is she claiming housing benefit for the property you live in or is she paying the rent for you?

So basically I pay the rent for this place to her as both the tent amounts come from her bank account. she pays it for where she is now. No, she doesn't claim any benefits

my_name

tomtontom wrote: »

And who is the child living with?

This all sounds a bit of a mess!

The child lives with me.
Officially I live where she is now and she lives here, it's just for practical reasons we swapped a couple of months ago
Because now the contract for the old place cannot be renewed, we'd be made homeless as I couldn't find anywhere that would let a place to me

marliepanda

Are you claiming housing benefit for the old house (where your ex now rents?)

my_name

marliepanda wrote: »

Are you claiming housing benefit for the old house (where your ex now rents?)

Yes, as there's where I have a lease and where my child and I were living alone for two years, until a couple of months ago
I am aware that I'm on thin ice legally, but because I couldn't get a lease in my own I have been forced to play the system. I'm not receiving any more money than I would be if I was able to move properly just to be clear, it's all been a result of estate agent's box ticking systems

RAS

if you just stay there it will take some month's for the LL to evict (you/your ex) delete as appropriate.

Has the deposit been registered etc and has a valid S21 been received?

However your apparent cross claiming of HB and paying an ex makes you vulnerable to claims of abuse.

marliepanda

my_name wrote: »

Yes, as there's where I have a lease and where my child and I were living alone for two years, until a couple of months ago
I am aware that I'm on thin ice legally, but because I couldn't get a lease in my own I have been forced to play the system. I'm not receiving any more money than I would be if I was able to move properly just to be clear, it's all been a result of estate agent's box ticking systems

You are commiting fraud and when found out you will owe back every penny of HB you claimed whilst not living there.

my_name

RAS wrote: »

if you just stay there it will take some month's for the LL to evict (you/your ex) delete as appropriate.

Has the deposit been registered etc and has a valid S21 been received?

However your apparent cross claiming of HB and paying an ex makes you vulnerable to claims of abuse.

Well this is what I'm trying to sort out. I want it all to be straight where I'm claiming for where I live, but the only thing preventing this is having a lease with my name on it
If I can prove I live here without the contract being in my name, which is the case, can I still claim the housing benefit?
Does housing benefit hinge on having the lease in your own name?