Housing Benefit - Non Dependents Income?

AliceWonders

I have tried a benefit calculation, but I am not sure if it is correct.

My situation is:

I am offered a 2-bedroom bungalow which I am taking, rent £155 per week, and I would be the sole tenant.

I currently live alone and receive:

ESA £286.15 per week

PIP £184.30 per week

Currently I am paying Bedroom Tax for my current 2-bedroom flat at £15 per week, the rest is covered by my Housing Benefit.

I have no other income and I am currently getting Carers Premium at £45.60 which is included in the ESA figure above.

My elderly 75-year-old dad wants to move into the bungalow with me he currently gets the following:

State Pension £243.53 per week

IIB (Maximum Retirement Allowance) £22.15 per week

PIP £184.30 per week

He also gets:

Private Work Pension at £624.78 per month

Private Pension (deceased wife) £19.97 per month

He does not get Pension Credit, as he is not entitled to this, he currently gets a small amount of Housing Benefit towards rent, but no Council Tax Support.

Obviously we both currently get the 25% single persons discount for council tax, and this would disappear if he moved in with me.

The benefit calculator does not consider or ask about his State Pension, Private Pensions, or IIB when doing a calculation online, it only considers his PIP. Is this because he is not a dependent of mine, and therefore, would these benefits be ignored if he lived with me?

Would it be different if it was a joint tenant, and he was added to the tenancy officially?

I have lived on my own for more than 20 years, but I do spend more time with my elderly father as his carer. I like my own space, and I am not keen on him moving in, unless he’s a joint tenant as I have complex health conditions also, so could die before him, and I would not want him to lose his home, if he was not named on the tenancy.

Saying this the new property is about 9 miles from my where my dad lives and it would be a lengthy commute by car daily, sometimes twice a day, which is why having him live with me might be a better option in the longer term.

I would be grateful for any advice on this.

poppy12345

Are you moving to the same Local Authority or a different one? If it's a different local Authority then you will need to claim Universal Credit for help with the rent. This will then end Income Related ESA 2 weeks after you claim UC. 

If it's with the same LA then Housing Benefit will continue as it will just be a change of address. 

To answer your question if he's not named on the tenancy agreement then there would be no non dependent deductions because your PIP includes the daily living part. You would also be entitled to an extra bedroom so your whole rent would be covered, assuming this is a social/council housing property. 

If he was named on the tenancy agreement you would each be liable for 50% of the rent so your HB entitlement would be half of the rent. 

AliceWonders

poppy12345 said:

Are you moving to the same Local Authority or a different one? If it's a different local Authority then you will need to claim Universal Credit for help with the rent. This will then end Income Related ESA 2 weeks after you claim UC. 

If it's with the same LA then Housing Benefit will continue as it will just be a change of address. 

To answer your question if he's not named on the tenancy agreement then there would be no non dependent deductions because your PIP includes the daily living part. You would also be entitled to an extra bedroom so your whole rent would be covered, assuming this is a social/council housing property. 

If he was named on the tenancy agreement you would each be liable for 50% of the rent so your HB entitlement would be half of the rent. 

Thanks for answering this. It’s the same LA so would be a change of circumstances. 

I think the way forward is for a joint tenancy and pay half the rent equally! 

Do you know how I would add this on a benefit calculation, should I do it as if we are ‘partners.’

poppy12345

I don't think a benefits calculator is needed for yourself. Your ESA and PIP will remain unchanged. Your housing benefit will still be paid in full for 50% of the rent. Your dad would be liable for the other 50%. 

For council tax you can look at claiming carers discount which would be 25%, it just means that you'll still be treated as living on your own.https://www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/information-for-your-situation/council-tax-discounts/carers

AliceWonders

Thanks for the information on the 25% discount, I didn’t know you could apply for this as a carer. It is really helpful to know.