Should my son apply for universal credit? will it affect mines?

euphoria1zz

Hi

I currently get housing allowance from council, child benefit and tax credit as 3 kids under 16.
My son is now 18 and is a non dependent living with us rent free.
He has no job, income or anything. He left college 6 months ago and still hasnt found a job and is still looking but no luck.

I work full time and my partner doesnt.

I have received my universal migration letter and will be moving on to it soon.

Questions...

1- Should my son apply for universal credit in his name? 
1a- can 2 people have universal credit in same household?
2- will this affect my benefits? is it worthwhile for him to apply?
3- should he be paying me rent/bills to me? 
4- is it worth him applying or will they simply reduce my benefits and give it to him?


Thanks

All advice appreciated.

Alice_Holt

1 - Yes
1a - Yes
2 - Not directly  
3  - That's for you and him to decide
4 - Yes / Your benefits won't reduce as you and your wife are a separate benefit unit to your adult son.

Yamor

While you are still on HB, you would actually be better off if he claims UC, as otherwise HB would make a non-dependant deduction.

euphoria1zz

Alice_Holt said:

1 - Yes
1a - Yes
2 - Not directly  
3  - That's for you and him to decide
4 - Yes / Your benefits won't reduce as you and your wife are a separate benefit unit to your adult son.

Thanks for your responses..

Does it make a difference if he pays rent to us or not? I.e will he still get universal credit if hes not paying any rent or bills? will he get more if he is paying ?  and will his rent to us not reduce our housing allowance?

Cheers.

poppy12345

euphoria1zz said:

Alice_Holt said:

1 - Yes
1a - Yes
2 - Not directly  
3  - That's for you and him to decide
4 - Yes / Your benefits won't reduce as you and your wife are a separate benefit unit to your adult son.

Thanks for your responses..

Does it make a difference if he pays rent to us or not? I.e will he still get universal credit if hes not paying any rent or bills? will he get more if he is paying ?  and will his rent to us not reduce our housing allowance?

Cheers.

It makes no difference whether he pays rent to you. He will still be entitled to UC in his own right regardless. 

The rent to you will not reduce your housing benefit but there will be a non dependant deduction anyway, which should apply now because he's not in full time education and he's 18. Did you report the changes to your local Authority when he left FTE?

sammyjammy

Non dependant deduction won't apply when you move to UC as he is under 21.  I would recommend you take some money from him for his upkeep.

Jyana

euphoria1zz said:

Alice_Holt said:

1 - Yes
1a - Yes
2 - Not directly  
3  - That's for you and him to decide
4 - Yes / Your benefits won't reduce as you and your wife are a separate benefit unit to your adult son.

Thanks for your responses..

Does it make a difference if he pays rent to us or not? I.e will he still get universal credit if hes not paying any rent or bills? will he get more if he is paying ?  and will his rent to us not reduce our housing allowance?

Cheers.

He will get the basic UC, but won't be able to claim extra for the housing/rental side of things, as I assume he is not named on the rental contract? Only people who actually rent the property can claim housing benefit, or housing allowance as part of UC. There is nothing stopping you charging him a boarding fee which he can pay out of his basic amount though, until he gets a job and can pay you from that instead. This is what many families do. 

poppy12345

As he's under 25 with no housing costs he will be entitled to £292.11/month UC.