When child turns 18 - change in benefits and council rent?

[Deleted User]

Hi,

My son is 18 and has left school, suddenly he is sleeping at my house most nights of the week (I've been divorced from his mother for over 10 years, and he's been staying with me every other weekend since). I'm happy for him to live with me, but suspect there is some other motive behind this. I stopped paying child support to his mother for him last month (for him, still paying for his younger siblings), his child benefit would also have stopped, and I'm wondering if perhaps the council have raised the rent on my ex-wife due to there being another working age adult in the house?

My son has registered on the electoral roll at my house,and has also registered on the gov. gateway as self-employed at my address (he's working in the gig economy, making OK money), he's been sleeping at my house 4 nights a week, but all other times is at his mothers. I feel like he's only 'technically' living with me.

Any ideas what could be going on? Things could change again next year if he goes to uni, I suspect he might 'move back' with his mother if it means he can get a larger maintenance loan.

Anyone know what actually counts as 'living at an address' in terms of govt and benefits? Whatever my son does, I want to make sure it's all above board.

pmlindyloo

The council would not raise the rent on the house of your ex. if another working aged adult was living at the property.

If your ex claims housing benefit/council tax reduction then if your son was classed as living there then a non dependent deduction would be made according to the amount he was earning. Your ex would also lose the single person's discount on her council tax if previously she was the only adult living there. Plus, a non dependent deduction would be made similar to HB.

So the question is does your ex, receive HB/council tax reduction/single person's discount?

There are no regulations about what constitutes living in a house but these are the guidelines:

Deciding the non-dependant’s normal home
5.520 No deduction should be made when the non-dependant is living or staying with the claimant but their normal home is elsewhere. There are no set rules or time limits for deciding whether the claimant’s address can be registered as the non-dependant’s normal home for the purpose of Regulation 74(7)(a).
HB/CTB Guidance Manual
Amdt 19 July 2009
A5 - Calculating benefit
5.521 You must make a decision on the basis of all relevant factors, including
• the relationship between the non-dependant and the claimant
• how much time the non-dependant spends at the claimant’s address
• where the non-dependant has their post sent
• where the non-dependant keeps their clothes/personal belongings
• whether or not the non-dependant’s stay or absence from the claimant’s house is temporary
• where the non-dependant lives when not living with the claimant - do they travel around or have another base which could be regarded as their home
• whether the person has liabilities for rent, water charges, services, TV licence

huckster

Do you claim any benefits ? If you do, then you will need to advise of your change in circumstances, if you Son is staying for more than half of the week.

sevenhills

[quote=[Deleted User];discussion/5905875]My son has registered on the electoral roll at my house,and has also registered on the gov. gateway as self-employed at my address (he's working in the gig economy, making OK money), he's been sleeping at my house 4 nights a week, but all other times is at his mothers. I feel like he's only 'technically' living with me.

Any ideas what could be going on? Things could change again next year if he goes to uni, I suspect he might 'move back' with his mother if it means he can get a larger maintenance loan.

Anyone know what actually counts as 'living at an address' in terms of govt and benefits? Whatever my son does, I want to make sure it's all above board.[/QUOTE]


My daughter is doing similar, although she is rarely at her mums, its more staying at friends.
My daughter spends less than 4 days per week her, but she has clothes here and is on the electoral roll and car insurance here. I dont think there is any doubt this is her main address.
Her mother was hoping to claim my daughter was still living at her house, probably due to the bedroom tax.

[Deleted User]

Thanks everyone, so looks like he can honestly claim residence at either address.

I don't claim any benefits, but I know his mother does, she works part time and my son's younger siblings and half-siblings live with her. I guess bedroom tax will become an issue at some point.

pmduk

Perhaps Mum has started demanding a contribution to the housekeeping and this is their way of avoiding that?

Sambella

Dad can ask for a contribution too. He is now allowed to effectively be resident parent as the money has stopped. Probably should have had shared care alll along.

Joseph Rowntree wrote about his. When the money stops children are often sent to live with other family members / pushed into early independence.

Op. What makes you think it won’t be you, alone, who supports him through Uni?