Questions about leaving property paid for by Housing Benefit to quarantine with elderly relatives

[Deleted User]

My parents are in their 70s and, following yesterday's news, face 4 months or more of being quarantined in their home in a village. (Could be a year!).  After discussion with other family members I've agreed to go join them for that time, as I'm the only one whose situation allows it and they have no other relations nearby.

I live 50 miles away in a flat in the city which is paid for by housing benefit. All my possessions will remain in this flat and it's still my registered address and where I'm paying the bills.  It's a private rental that I've lived in for a decade and the guy who owns it will not care at all that I'm away - he would not even want to know.   He doesn't have a mortgage so that's not an issue, and he will never visit.  He's easy to get hold of by email and phone.

But I want to clarify about the council.   I understand that I can be away from this flat for up to 6 months without any problem, so long as I let the council know, and my HB will continue to be paid.   And then even if I just returned to the property for one day, I could then take another 6 months.    Is that right?  Should I let the council know immediately - or can I let them know in a few weeks, or months - or just not tell them?

calcotti

Your opening paragraph refers to 4 months, your final paragraph refers to six months.
https://england.shelter.org.uk/legal/benefits/housing_benefit/occupying_the_home/temporary_absences_from_home
This indicates 13 weeks and states
"A fresh period of temporary absence for which housing benefit is payable can start following a return to the property (this could be for as little as 24 hours)."

pmlindyloo

I believe you can be temporarily absent for 52 weeks if you are caring for someone.
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/benefits/housing_benefit_while_away_from_home
Heads up for the following:
Check with landlord re: house insurance (plus your own contents insurance) as regards leaving house empty.
Are you sure that your parents want you there?  Not being funny but having someone permanently in the house can be quite annoying for some people who have their own routines (it would drive me mad!)
Are you sure that you want to do this?  I live in a village and there are already lots of things being arranged by the community to look after the elderly so check this out.

calcotti

I note that the two shelter links posted by myself and pmlindyloo say different things in respect of permitted 52 week absence when caring for somebody
Link pmlindyloo referenced says "providing care to someone".
Link I referenced says "providing medically approved care to someone else". This seems to me more limited in scope.

calcotti

In terms of ending a period of absence and restarting the clock note this in the Housing Benefit manual
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236950/hbgm-a3-liability-to-make-payments.pdf
"any return to the normal home which is a genuine re-occupation of the home will end a period of temporary absence. If the period of the return is short, you will need evidence to prove the stay was genuine. Whether the stay is genuine is a question of judgement. For example, a stay lasting only a few hours may not be acceptable but one that lasts at least 24 hours may be acceptable. It all depends on the facts of the case. If the stay is not considered genuine, the temporary absence will not have stopped."

In respect of the 52 week rule it says "Only consider the 52 week limit for the following circumstances...persons providing medically approved care."

[Deleted User]

I don't have contents insurance - I don't have many valuables.   And also I am certain that my landlord does not have any kind of insurance for this property either.  I've been here ten years and understand him by now.   He's not a BTL landlord, instead it's a property that's been in his family 50 years and has massively increased in value, so it's all free money for him.  He doesn't come here for years and years at a time, doesn't care; never any inspections etc.  But I like the freedom I have here precisely for that reason. 

Can I clarify, at what point do you need to tell the council that you are taking time away from a property?  Is it on the first day, or within the first 30 days, etc? 

sheramber

You would be better asking your council. 

born_again

To put another side to this. And I understand your brother works in a area that is going to be impacted going forward. 
The current advise is that delivery's are to be left outside and brought in by the householders, to avoid any contact with 3rd parties. So If you are going to stay with them, then you are in effect self isolating as well. So that kind of makes it pointless you staying with them, while they are fit and well. It's not like you can go out shopping for them, as that is just putting them at more risk.
Would it not be better to visit them say once a week and bring any supplies they need for now, as well as daily phone contact to ensure they are healthy. If they then do catch Covid 19, then that is the time they would need someone there to look after them. As it is not something that strikes people down with no warning.

pickledonionspaceraider

This is the only info I can find https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/benefits/housing_benefit_while_away_from_home

But I have to say if you were planning on returning in order to break the 13 weeks up - it would be advisable to be very careful or you could potentially negate the point of 'self isolating' if you need to go back.

Do you get on well with your parents? Do you really want this, to go and stay cooped up with them for months at a time, and more importantly, do they actually want this?  It is not up to your Brother or anyone else to be making demands of anyone else, it is up to your parents and you

But in answer to your OP, the answer seems to be in the link

good luck

calcotti

pickledonionspaceraider said:

This is the only info I can find https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/benefits/housing_benefit_while_away_from_home
...
But in answer to your OP, the answer seems to be in the link

As posted in the second reply to OP.

[Deleted User]

pickledonionspaceraider said:

This is the only info I can find https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/benefits/housing_benefit_while_away_from_home

But I have to say if you were planning on returning in order to break the 13 weeks up - it would be advisable to be very careful or you could potentially negate the point of 'self isolating' if you need to go back.

Do you get on well with your parents? Do you really want this, to go and stay cooped up with them for months at a time, and more importantly, do they actually want this?  It is not up to your Brother or anyone else to be making demands of anyone else, it is up to your parents and you

But in answer to your OP, the answer seems to be in the link

good luck

Thanks for the further replies!

Yes, I do get on well with my parents.  We're a close family - of course some differences, but "blood is thicker than water".  My parents were worried about me staying in the city (alright, it's London), and my brother and I are worried about them.

Yes, the idea is that I will self-isolate with them.   I won't do anything that it wouldn't be safe for someone aged over 70 to do.

I'm single and have no commitments that I can't carry out from my laptop.

It's for my parents' mental health as much as anything - and for mine, too.  We're all pretty anxious by nature.  It's a reasurrance to all of us for me to be here with them. 

If this goes on past June (as looks certain), then my plan is to take a minicab back to London every 12 weeks and stay alone in my flat self-isolated for a few days, with supplies in my bag or delivered to the door.  Then a taxi back.  Rinse, repeat.  Hoping for a minicab driver who isn't infected!

I am not sure when I need to tell the council - does it need to be now? or could it be in 12 weeks?  Or, practically speaking, could I just not tell them at all?