Helping Homeless Friend

YamsterTheHamster

Hi there, I wonder if someone could advise on the situation I find myself in.

My best friend (male) finds himself homeless after losing his job and tied accomodation and is currently sleeping on a blow up bed on my living room floor, working for a job agency 35 hours a week on minimum wage until he can save enough for a deposit on a room. I (female) claim ESA (work group, income based) PIP (enhanced mobility, standard care) all relevant premiums and housing/council tax benefit, I'm in a one bedroom housing association flat. We're definitely not a couple, I have simply taken pity on him and rather than let him sleep in his car or on the street I have taken him in on a temporary basis whilst he sorts himself out. He doesn't pay towards any bills, cooks own meals, does own washing, sleeps on floor etc.

What could the financial implications be for me with this arrangement? Who do I notify? I want to stay on the right side of the law obviously.

pmlindyloo

YamsterTheHamster said:

Hi there, I wonder if someone could advise on the situation I find myself in.

My best friend (male) finds himself homeless after losing his job and tied accomodation and is currently sleeping on a blow up bed on my living room floor, working for a job agency 35 hours a week on minimum wage until he can save enough for a deposit on a room. I (female) claim ESA (work group, income based) PIP (enhanced mobility, standard care) all relevant premiums and housing/council tax benefit, I'm in a one bedroom housing association flat. We're definitely not a couple, I have simply taken pity on him and rather than let him sleep in his car or on the street I have taken him in on a temporary basis whilst he sorts himself out. He doesn't pay towards any bills, cooks own meals, does own washing, sleeps on floor etc.

What could the financial implications be for me with this arrangement? Who do I notify? I want to stay on the right side of the law obviously.

How long has your friend been living with you?  How long do you expect him to stay?
(You will understand the reason for the questions as I continue!)

There are three possible scenarios here regarding your benefits.

1.  They would treat you as living together and consequently all your benefits (except your PIP award) would be affected as he is earning.

2.  They treat him as a non dependent.  This is an adult living with you but you have no commercial agreement with them to pay rent. 
A non dependent deduction would be applied to your HB.  You would lose your single person's discount on your council tax reduction and you would lose your Severe Disability Premium on your ESA as you would no longer be living alone.

3.  They accept that he is not normally residing with you, this is a temporary situation and none of your benefits will be affected.

A decision would have to be made about whether your friend was normally residing with you or not.  They may consider length of stay and other circumstances involved.

 The decision would be made by a Decision Maker.

It would seem sensible to make sure that your address is not used in any of your friend's personal matters - bank accounts etc etc if this is a temporary situation.  Ask him to give a relative/friend's address if needed.  

Some people would say that they wouldn't bother to inform the benefit offices in these circumstances.

Others will say inform them so that you have peace of mind (particularly if you have nosy neighbours!)

Personally I would be urging your friend to 'find a room', borrow the money and move out asap

poppy12345

pmlindyloo said:

YamsterTheHamster said:

Hi there, I wonder if someone could advise on the situation I find myself in.

My best friend (male) finds himself homeless after losing his job and tied accomodation and is currently sleeping on a blow up bed on my living room floor, working for a job agency 35 hours a week on minimum wage until he can save enough for a deposit on a room. I (female) claim ESA (work group, income based) PIP (enhanced mobility, standard care) all relevant premiums and housing/council tax benefit, I'm in a one bedroom housing association flat. We're definitely not a couple, I have simply taken pity on him and rather than let him sleep in his car or on the street I have taken him in on a temporary basis whilst he sorts himself out. He doesn't pay towards any bills, cooks own meals, does own washing, sleeps on floor etc.

What could the financial implications be for me with this arrangement? Who do I notify? I want to stay on the right side of the law obviously.

A non dependent deduction would be applied to your HB. 

This wouldn't apply because the OP is claiming daily living PIP so there would be no non dependent deductions.

pmlindyloo

poppy12345 said:

pmlindyloo said:

YamsterTheHamster said:

Hi there, I wonder if someone could advise on the situation I find myself in.

My best friend (male) finds himself homeless after losing his job and tied accomodation and is currently sleeping on a blow up bed on my living room floor, working for a job agency 35 hours a week on minimum wage until he can save enough for a deposit on a room. I (female) claim ESA (work group, income based) PIP (enhanced mobility, standard care) all relevant premiums and housing/council tax benefit, I'm in a one bedroom housing association flat. We're definitely not a couple, I have simply taken pity on him and rather than let him sleep in his car or on the street I have taken him in on a temporary basis whilst he sorts himself out. He doesn't pay towards any bills, cooks own meals, does own washing, sleeps on floor etc.

What could the financial implications be for me with this arrangement? Who do I notify? I want to stay on the right side of the law obviously.

A non dependent deduction would be applied to your HB. 

This wouldn't apply because the OP is claiming daily living PIP so there would be no non dependent deductions.

Whoops! Forgotten that - thanks.

calcotti

pmlindyloo said: It would seem sensible to make sure that your address is not used in any of your friend's personal matters - bank accounts etc etc if this is a temporary situation.  Ask him to give a relative/friend's address if needed.  

Although I don't think it makes a legal difference I usually suggest that if an address is used in these circumstances that it is given as a c/o address.

YamsterTheHamster

Thank you for your replies, much appreciated. He's got a shocking credit history so won't be getting any loans and moving straight out sadly. I made a point of asking him not to use my address for any post, this is very much a temporary 'sofa surfing' situation and I don't want to be penalised for doing a good deed. We aren't (and never will be) a couple, he lives his life and I live mine, he's looking around for a better paying job so he can save more, potentially he could be here a month or more.

So, as I understand it, him being at mine would not affect my housing benefit and council tax award because of my PIP? To stay on the right side of the law I presume I would have to inform the council I am no longer living alone, would that then mean I would lose my severe disability premium because he's here? 

I have a bit to think about, thanks again.

poppy12345

YamsterTheHamster said:

So, as I understand it, him being at mine would not affect my housing benefit and council tax award because of my PIP? To stay on the right side of the law I presume I would have to inform the council I am no longer living alone, would that then mean I would lose my severe disability premium because he's here? 

I have a bit to think about, thanks again.

Your HB is not affected. As you were living alone and claiming the single person discount then you'll lose this. If you report him living with you to your local Authority, you will need to do the same for ESA and you will lose the SDP.

TELLIT01

poppy12345 said:

Your HB is not affected. As you were living alone and claiming the single person discount then you'll lose this. If you report him living with you to your local Authority, you will need to do the same for ESA and you will lose the SDP.

I'm not sure that's automatically the outcome. When I was on benefit processing the wording was along the lines of "living alone, or treated as living alone".  The way 'treated as living alone' is defined would determine whether or not SDP is lost.

YamsterTheHamster

So I guess that him not being my partner or part of my regular household could mean I was still classed as 'living alone' then, interesting, thanks.

poppy12345

I think it will be down to a decision maker from DWP to decide that, as advised here.

pmlindyloo said:

YamsterTheHamster said:

Hi there, I wonder if someone could advise on the situation I find myself in.

My best friend (male) finds himself homeless after losing his job and tied accomodation and is currently sleeping on a blow up bed on my living room floor, working for a job agency 35 hours a week on minimum wage until he can save enough for a deposit on a room. I (female) claim ESA (work group, income based) PIP (enhanced mobility, standard care) all relevant premiums and housing/council tax benefit, I'm in a one bedroom housing association flat. We're definitely not a couple, I have simply taken pity on him and rather than let him sleep in his car or on the street I have taken him in on a temporary basis whilst he sorts himself out. He doesn't pay towards any bills, cooks own meals, does own washing, sleeps on floor etc.

What could the financial implications be for me with this arrangement? Who do I notify? I want to stay on the right side of the law obviously.

3.  They accept that he is not normally residing with you, this is a temporary situation and none of your benefits will be affected.

A decision would have to be made about whether your friend was normally residing with you or not.  They may consider length of stay and other circumstances involved.

YamsterTheHamster

poppy12345 said:

I think it will be down to a decision maker from DWP to decide that, as advised here.

pmlindyloo said:

YamsterTheHamster said:

Hi there, I wonder if someone could advise on the situation I find myself in.

My best friend (male) finds himself homeless after losing his job and tied accomodation and is currently sleeping on a blow up bed on my living room floor, working for a job agency 35 hours a week on minimum wage until he can save enough for a deposit on a room. I (female) claim ESA (work group, income based) PIP (enhanced mobility, standard care) all relevant premiums and housing/council tax benefit, I'm in a one bedroom housing association flat. We're definitely not a couple, I have simply taken pity on him and rather than let him sleep in his car or on the street I have taken him in on a temporary basis whilst he sorts himself out. He doesn't pay towards any bills, cooks own meals, does own washing, sleeps on floor etc.

What could the financial implications be for me with this arrangement? Who do I notify? I want to stay on the right side of the law obviously.

3.  They accept that he is not normally residing with you, this is a temporary situation and none of your benefits will be affected.

A decision would have to be made about whether your friend was normally residing with you or not.  They may consider length of stay and other circumstances involved.

Yes, I accept that will be the case. I hope he will be able to rent somewhere soon. Do councils still do the rent guarantee scheme (or whatever it was called) where they could pay for a room deposit for him? He hasn't approached the council homeless dept yet but possibly they may be able to help him along, fingers crossed!