Benefits and inheritance

xylophone

So you think that the govt will continue to pay the OP house benefit even though he owns a house, and continue to pay his sister housing benefit to live in his house?

No - I assume that once the OP started to receive  additional income in the form of rent, his entitlement to housing benefit would cease.

It is by no means clear whether or not probate has yet been granted and the property transferred into the name of the OP.

If it has, the the LA needs to be informed.

It is not clear what benefits his sister may be on.

If she is claiming some form of benefit that takes account of rent, then provided that the tenancy is established on a commercial basis, it may well be that she can continue to receive it - see Shelter guidance.

TELLIT01

KatrinaWaves said:

OP hasn’t mentioned a mortgage, just that he has been left ‘the house’ which could easily have been sorted before 6 months. It may not have been, but don’t act like it’s impossible with a straight forward estate. 

If the OP had a home he could live in, and owned, and has not told the council, which he clearly does, he is committing fraud. 6 months is more than long enough to inform the council.  You are the one who stated it would be easy to convince the LA that there was a genuine tenancy for housing benefit purposes. I do not see that as being the case at all. 

Misquotiing people again.  At no point did I say it would be easy to convince the LA.  When my mother died it took over 6 months for the solicitors to complete the work on a comparatively straight forward estate, likewise when a cousin died.  One in England and one in Scotland.  Different laws apply but the timescales were similar.  Probate would be required for an estate of that value and that can take months to obtain.

poppy12345

I think it's very difficult to speculate anything without the OP coming back to give more details. It's pointless arguing about this, that and the other until that happens.

calcotti

OP appears not to have returned to the site since posting their question.