Carers allowance effecting housing benefit

mirry

Hi my son is 22 and disabled, he was informed he was entitled £506 a month housing benefit for a one bed flat. So we found him a flat and now they are paying him half the amount. They mention that his mother (myself) gets carers allowance for him. So is this the reason why? I'm shocked they didn't tell us his before he moved in

Ames

Your carer's allowance shouldn't affect his housing benefit. The only thing it could affect is an extra premium on means tested benefits like ESA.

In my opinion (I'm not an expert) it's possible that he's only getting the shared room rate when he should be getting the one bed rate, can you look up the amounts on your council website? Council's sometimes make mistakes and don't realise under 35s can claim the one bed rate if they're disabled.

Could you put up what the letter actually says (obviously without names and other personal info)?

mirry

Thank you. My son gets dla middle rate, mobility lower rate and ESA support group.

It says, in working out your weekly benefit we have used the following information...

Your weekly earned income 0
Partners weekly income 0
Any other income £76.90
Total weekly income £76.90
Disregarded income £76.90
Income used in calculations £0

mirry

It looks like the £76.90 is his dla payment of £307 per month

mirry

Then it says,,

Applicable amount

Single claimant £57.90
Disability premium single £32.25
Severe disability premium £61.85

Total applicable amount £152.00

mirry

Then in the main letter it says....

You declared in your form that your mother was receiving carers allowance for you. Because of this you are only entitled to the single room rate of local housing allowance of £69.04. If in the future your mum stops getting carers allowance for you, please provide proof of this to the housing benefit department , as his may increase your entitlement.

CouponWoman

Severe Disability premium only applies if no one is claiming carers allowance for the disabled person. If you stopped claiming carers allowance your son;s benefit would be increased as he would then become entitled to SDP in with his income related esa.