Moving in with Grandparent

ChloeAllan13

Hi all,

Looking for some advice here.

My grandfather recently lost my grandmother and has invited myself and my fiance to live with him whilst we save for a mortgage (and as he's pretty lonely). My grandfather owns a 3 bed home which the mortgage is already paid - the only bills he currently pays are his utilities and council tax - which we are more than happy to pay our share of.

We currently live with my fianc!s parents and his younger sister - it is fairly cramped as they live in a 3 bed upstairs flat. We pay them a set amount each month to cover bills and food etc

My main concern is that if we move in with my grandfather as lodgers (not carers) would this affect his benefit entitlement? The last thing we want is him out of pocket if we are living there. He's currently receiving Pension Credit (granted it's not much and is being shot down to £7 a week after Xmas!) and Attendance Allowance (I think.) We are still waiting to hear whether he qualifies for a council tax reduction.

Thanks in advance!

Chloe

duchy

If you move in then council tax reduction as a single person definitely won't apply (and rightly so with two earning adults living in the house and accessing services)

In your situation I'd expect to pay all the utilities and council tax and all of the food shopping as a minimum as he would benefit and you'd still be in a very strong position to save.

AnotherJoe

Why dont you move in as unpaid carers ? You will of course contribute to the groceries, heating, lighting, etc bills to pay your way.

Mrs_pbradley936

I agree with the previous poster - you are not lodgers, you are unpaid carers. In a few years you could well become that anyway if at the minute Granddad is fit. The single person discount on the Council tax will have to go. He will still get his £200 heating allowance - other things sound like a pittance and if you will be paying towards the bills anyway Granddad should be no worse off.

Mossfarr

Not a decision to make lightly. You have no idea how difficult living with an elderly person can be (and yes I do speak from experience)!

Your grandfather wants you to move in because he is lonely, what happens when you want to move out? He will actually be more lonely because he will have got used to having you there.

Its a lovely idea and it may work for you, I sincerly hope it does but there are a lot of implications (in addition to the finacial ones) that you will not have considered so think it through very carefully.

Keep_pedalling

Sounds like a good mutually beneficial arrangement.

Attendant allowance is not means tested so will not be affected, and his PC is also unlikely to be effected especially if he is over 75 which will mean he is almost certainly on an indefinite income assessment period.

Even if that is not the case if you don't contribute more than £20 a week each then that income can be ignored as far as PC is concerned.

http://www.ageuk.org.uk/Documents/EN-GB/Factsheets/FS48_Pension_Credit_fcs.pdf?dtrk=true

As for being lodgers rather than carers I don't think that is really the case, you will be providing him with company, emotional support, security and no doubt sharing chores and meals, all things that can be considered as carers roles.

Hopefully it should work out well for all concerned, although he might find it hard to let you go once you are in a position to get your own place.

P.S. Does he currently cave a care package in place,

AnotherJoe

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

As for being lodgers rather than carers I don't think that is really the case, you will be providing him with company, emotional support, security and no doubt sharing chores and meals, all things that can be considered as carers roles.

To be a lodger they would (id have thought) need to have a formal agreement and pay rent. If they just buy groceries, hand over some cash for the gas bill, etc it comes to the same thing without all that complication.

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

Hopefully it should work out well for all concerned, although he might find it hard to let you go once you are in a position to get your own place.

True

mad_spaniel

He might lose the Severe Disability Premium on his Pension Credit- £63 a week. Ask on Benefits and advice section. Also 25% discount he'll be getting on his Council Tax.

Cakeguts

Rather than moving in with him it would be better to find something that stops him from being lonely without having to rely on you. If you are working and living with him he still won't have anyone around during the day. What he needs are interests outside the home which allows him to meet other people of his generation so that he has something in common with them.

csgohan4

You may find privacy and space may be an issue. What if they get ill or develop dementia, you may be guilt tripped into staying forever.


Have you asked your other half what they think?