Will moving house affect my ESA?

Joe99

Hello guys, 
I am 21 years old. I currently receive both enhanced rates of PIP and I am in the support group for ESA with EDP and SDP which the total payment every 2 weeks is £395.20.

I currently live with my mum who also receives PIP and ESA, which is why I currently receive an SDP on my ESA because my mum receives PIP and ESA so I qualify for the SDP.

However, recently me and my mum have not been getting on and basically she's told me I need to move out. I know a friend who I've known for the last 5 years. She currently lives in a 1 bedroom flat but we was speaking about renting a 2 bedroom house together because it'd be easier to get with 2 tenants.

She's currently in full time employment on 40+ hours a week. I am just wondering if we both sign a tenancy agreement together as friends, will my ESA/PIP be affected when I ring them to change my address? Will it trigger a change to Universal Credit? 

Also, will I still be able to claim housing benefit as I'm on ESA and and PIP? I believe I'd be entitled to £85.00 a week due to receiving ESA and PIP, is this true?

Me and my friend are just strictly friends we're not partners or anything like that we're just best friends shes the only person other than my mum and who I feel comfortable around due to my mental health and autism. 

So basically I'm just wanting to know when I ring PIP and ESA to change my address and explain I'm in a 2 bedroom house share with my friend I'm still living independently paying for my own food/bills and having my rent paid by my council just for me, will my ESA or PIP be affected and will it trigger a change to UC? 
Sorry for all the questions but I really appreciate all your help guys 
Thank you 

calcotti

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Severe-Disability-Premium/Can-I-get-a-Severe-Disability-Premium#guide-content

• You must be the only adult in the household. If you live with a flatmate who you split bills with, you will probably be treated as the only adult in the household.

You should be OK and remain untitled to SDP in which case you will be excluded from claiming UC and therefore entitled to claim HB. The maximum amount of HB will be the one bedroom rate for Local Housing Allowance for the post code https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/.

Joe99

calcotti said:

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Severe-Disability-Premium/Can-I-get-a-Severe-Disability-Premium#guide-content

• You must be the only adult in the household. If you live with a flatmate who you split bills with, you will probably be treated as the only adult in the household.

You should be OK and remain untitled to SDP in which case you will be excluded from claiming UC and therefore entitled to claim HB. The maximum amount of HB will be the one bedroom rate for Local Housing Allowance for the post code https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/.

Great, I've had a look at the link and it says if I live with another adult who is not my partner I may still receive the SDP. I'd need to know for 100% certain I would still receive my SDP as I cannot afford to lose £66.95 a week. 

I would be technically living independently, my rent being paid by HB, I would be buying my own food and paying my own bills, I would have my own bedroom, to be honest I don't sit downstairs I'd always be in my bedroom we'd only be sharing the bathroom and kitchen but obviously not at the same time.

My sister would still continue to come around and help me as she visits me at my mums now and helps me with stuff.

Thanks

poppy12345

Under these circumstances you will still be entitled to SDP.

Joe99

poppy12345 said:

Under these circumstances you will still be entitled to SDP.

Fantastic, so my ESA and PIP would not be affected? How would I go about claiming housing benefit, do I just ring my council and tell them I've moved and need to make a claim for my new house? Because at the moment I'm just on my mums housing benefit, she receives £85 and the rent is £115 a week so the council just tops up the £30 a week if you know what I mean.

Will a change of address trigger a change to UC for me? 

Thanks

calcotti

Joe99 said: Because at the moment I'm just on my mums housing benefit, she receives £85 and the rent is £115 a week so the council just tops up the £30 a week if you know what I mean.

Sorry don't understand this. You say your mum gets HB of £85/week. What do you mean the council tops up the £30/week?

Joe99 said: Will a change of address trigger a change to UC for me? 

If you are entitled to SDP you are not allowed to claim UC.

Note - your mother's housing benefit entitlement may change when you move out so she must let the council know when you leave.

KxMx

Could be discretionary housing payment topping up the £30.

Joe99

Reply to Calcotti

I’ve been on my mums housing benefit claim since being a kid, she receives £85 weekly and they pay £30 for me as the rent top up to make it £115 a week.

So what do I say when I ring ESA/PIP, do I just say I’ve moved into a 2 bedroom house with my friend but she works full time and she’s not caring for me in any way, I have my own bedroom, I never sit in the front room I’m always in my bedroom even at my mums, we will only be sharing the bathroom and kitchen, but not at the same time, so am I still classed as living on my own?

I don’t want to get a 1 bedroom flat due to not wanting to share a building with other strangers due to my mental health, my anxiety, depression and autism. My friend is the only person other than my mum that I will live with as I trust her, my autism only limits me to trusting certain people.

Yes my mum will be aware she will have to pay the £120 monthly top up.

Joe99

Reply to KxMx

Its because I’ve been on her housing benefit claim since being a kid and she’s entitled to £85 a week and if the rent is £115 a week that’s why they are only paying £30 for me as they won’t pay me £85 a week if only £30 a week is required.

poppy12345

Joe99 said:

Reply to Calcotti

I’ve been on my mums housing benefit claim since being a kid, she receives £85 weekly and they pay £30 for me as the rent top up to make it £115 a week.

So what do I say when I ring ESA/PIP, do I just say I’ve moved into a 2 bedroom house with my friend but she works full time and she’s not caring for me in any way, I have my own bedroom, I never sit in the front room I’m always in my bedroom even at my mums, we will only be sharing the bathroom and kitchen, but not at the same time, so am I still classed as living on my own?

I don’t want to get a 1 bedroom flat due to not wanting to share a building with other strangers due to my mental health, my anxiety, depression and autism. My friend is the only person other than my mum that I will live with as I trust her, my autism only limits me to trusting certain people.

Yes my mum will be aware she will have to pay the £120 monthly top up.

I have no idea what you mean by "£30 top up for you"

As has been advised regarding you moving in with a friend for a house share, you will still be entitled to the SDP and you won't be able to claim for UC. Once you move you will need to claim housing benefit from your local council, not DWP.

You will then need to ring DWP to report a change of address and tell them that you are house sharing.

Spoonie_Turtle

As poppy said, you will have to make a Housing Benefit claim for yourself. You will be entitled to the one room rate, whatever that is in your area - what your Mum is entitled to has no effect on what will be your own claim.