Housing Benefit / Joint Tenant with Daughter

BevanAshford

Hello. Thank for you for any advice. 

I recently retired and qualify for pension credit. My daughter and I would like to move in together and move to a different area. 

If we rent a home together as joint tenants from a private landlord, does her income affect my housing benefit (she does not give me any money). 

My daughter works and is not eligible for any benefit other than child support. She also has her own daughter. So we would rent a three bedroom house. 

What level of housing benefit would I be eligible for?

Thank you. 

calcotti

If you are a joint tenant your maximum eligible rent will (generally) be half the rent or the one bedroom Local Housing Allowance rate for your postcode (whichever is lower). https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk

BevanAshford

calcotti said:

If you are a joint tenant your maximum eligible rent will (generally) be half the rent or the one bedroom Local Housing Allowance rate for your postcode (whichever is lower). https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk

Thank you. 

BevanAshford

Does my daughter’s income count towards my claim does anyone know?

poppy12345

BevanAshford said:

Does my daughter’s income count towards my claim does anyone know?

No, not if you're joint tenants. You would be able to claim for half the rent, as already advised. Your daughter would then need to pay her share of the rent.

BevanAshford

poppy12345 said:

BevanAshford said:

Does my daughter’s income count towards my claim does anyone know?

No, not if you're joint tenants. You would be able to claim for half the rent, as already advised. Your daughter would then need to pay her share of the rent.

Thank you. Entitled to said I would get shared accomodation level. I will try and track down if I inadvertently ticked an incorrect box somewhere. 

poppy12345

A benefits calculator is only as good as the information you put into them. To find out how much LHA you're entitled to use the link above.

Spoonie_Turtle

BevanAshford said:

poppy12345 said:

BevanAshford said:

Does my daughter’s income count towards my claim does anyone know?

No, not if you're joint tenants. You would be able to claim for half the rent, as already advised. Your daughter would then need to pay her share of the rent.

Thank you. Entitled to said I would get shared accomodation level. I will try and track down if I inadvertently ticked an incorrect box somewhere. 

With a daughter old enough to work I'm assuming you're over 35  (EDIT: totally irrelevant as OP is of pension age *facepalm*) 
It's if you're under 35 that you'd only be entitled to the shared accommodation rate Over 35s are allowed the 1 bedroom rate.

Edit additional: from pmlindyloo's post it appears I could well be wrong anyway.

pmlindyloo

Mmmm...
Looking at this link and assuming the OP and daughter with child forms a single household then wouldn't the LHA be split three ways?
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/324708/lha-guidance-manual.pdf
2.123  example 3

Spoonie_Turtle

pmlindyloo said:

Mmmm...
Looking at this link and assuming the OP and daughter with child forms a single household then wouldn't the LHA be split three ways?
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/324708/lha-guidance-manual.pdf
2.123  example 3

Oh interesting, so it seems the difference is whether they form a single household or are just housemates then?

calcotti

pmlindyloo said:

Mmmm...
Looking at this link and assuming the OP and daughter with child forms a single household then wouldn't the LHA be split three ways?
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/324708/lha-guidance-manual.pdf
2.123  example 3

That is interesting and I can see the logic behind it. That does suggest my advice was incorrect. Just to add though that surely it is the rent that would be split, not the LHA. OP would therefore be eligible for one third of the rent or one bedroom LHA whichever is lower.

OP, it may be worth you approaching the local authority benefits team and see if they can advise you before you progress your property search.