PIP ESA & Being a Lodger

Hollyfroud

I am in a bit of a stuck situation and don’t know if I will end up loosing my benefit. I am currently homeless and been sleeping on a friends couch for over a year. I suffer from quite serious mental health issues and have been in the support group for ESA for 2 years and also on PIP. I have been offered a room in a friends house (they own there own home) I would have my own room but share a bath room and kitchen and livingroom but would spend most of my time in my room as I can’t be around people for long. They have said if I can afford it they would just ask for £50 a week to help with the bills etc.

If I phoned up esa to make them aware of change of address would they need to re asses me or take my Benifet of me cause i am technically living with someone else even though they are just a friend if it was all ok would I get HB aswell?

Thanks

TELLIT01

Your claim will be reassessed because your situation has changed. Sharing a property doesn't disqualify you from receipt of ESA. If your friend is asking for a contribution towards costs it would be sensible to have that in writing as you may be able to get help towards that.

Hollyfroud

So does that mean they would reassess then decide you were no longer entitled as you live with someone even if they are not a relative or any other connection and you are responsible for your own food etc

poppy12345

TELLIT01 wrote: »

Your claim will be reassessed because your situation has changed. Sharing a property doesn't disqualify you from receipt of ESA. If your friend is asking for a contribution towards costs it would be sensible to have that in writing as you may be able to get help towards that.

Sorry but i disagree here. A change of address should not mean a person will be re-assessed. I moved house several months ago and i claim ESA and PIP, i was not reassessed for either benefit. Just because i moved house doesn't mean my situation had changed. For me it was a simple change of address and nothing more.

Unimaginativeusername

Try and get your friend to give you a tenancy agreement or lodger agreement stating that you are renting a room in the property and paying £x per week rent.

You’re not in a relationship, you’re renting a room. It should not affect your benefits at all and you should be entitled to LHA for help with the rent.

TELLIT01

poppy12345 wrote: »

Sorry but i disagree here. A change of address should not mean a person will be re-assessed.

You're right. What I meant was that their claim, not their medical situation, may be reassessed following a change of address. In this instance the claimant has gone from NFA (No Fixed Address) to having an address. That should result in an ESA3 being sent out to collect details of their new living arrangements.