Benefits if living with parents

Sarah1212

Hello,

I'm being made homeless due to rent arrears. I've now been given a date I have to leave by and am trying to get some help to find somewhere else to live.

My mum has offered to let me come stay with her until I sort out somewhere else to live. The offer is quite appealing because I've been very unhappy in the city I'm living in now and would like to get away, but I'm not sure I want to stay with her because until recently we hadn't been in any contact for a number of years after a bad falling out (dont want to go into details) and I don't want to end up in a situation where I'm unhappy but stuck there.

I'm wondering though if anyone could offer some advice about how my benefits would be affected? As far as I'm aware I wouldn't be able to claim housing benefit to help towards my mums rent, but would I still be eligible to receive the ESA? I don't want to be in a situation where I have no money to contribute to the living costs as I wouldn't want to have to rely on my mum for everything, and if things dont work out and I'm receiving no money I could be in a worse situation than I am now.

Thank you for any advice,
Sarah

Alice_Holt

ESA will continue.

As you say you would not be able claim HB.

Does your mum claim HB herself?

calcotti

If your mother lives alone and gets a 25% discount on her Council Tax bill she will lose this when you move in ( she must report the change to the local authority).

As hinted at by Alice there may be an impact on any benefits your mother is claiming.

Sarah1212

Thank you. I'm not sure if my mum is receiving any benefits. We've only been speaking again since about Christmas time so I feel a bit awkward asking her. She split up with her now ex husband and has a child with him, so I don't know if she's receiving benefits or if he's supporting her still. She only has a part time job so I cant imagine that'd pay for everything.

Alice_Holt

If she is claiming HB, there may be a non-dependant deduction made of £15pw when you move in.
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/benefits/housing_benefit_deductions_when_living_with_non-dependants

I.e It's expected that you contribute towards the rent from your ESA. You may want to budget for that.

calcotti

Sarah1212 wrote: »

Thank you. I'm not sure if my mum is receiving any benefits. We've only been speaking again since about Christmas time so I feel a bit awkward asking her. She split up with her now ex husband and has a child with him, so I don't know if she's receiving benefits or if he's supporting her still. She only has a part time job so I cant imagine that'd pay for everything.

You could just say to her that you don’t want to cause her any problems and if you move in it might affect any benefits she is claiming. It’s up to her whether or not she tells you but it would at least alert her that it might be something she wants to check if applicable.

Sarah1212

Thank you for all your replies. Don't know what I'd do without all you lovely people taking your time to give me some advice! I really do appreciate all you do to help me and everyone else. Thank you!

[Deleted User]

I think at this time of year any offer of a home is to be seized far better than the alternatives,