My Mom is coming to live with me

Cariboudle

Hi all,

I can't find any information on if there are any benefits for giving a home to a parent.  My mom is not disabled or even sick or infirm.  She's approaching 70 and doesn't work anymore.  She currently lives abroad and I support her financially.  Because she's getting on, and lonely maybe, we have decided she should come live with me.

I have a decent job and own my home (with a mortgage).  I don't claim any benefit except the single person council tax discount.

My question is - since my mother will be living with me, I'll lose the council tax discount for a single occupier.  Is there any other benefit that would apply in my situation, for helping towards expenses for taking in a parent?

(I realise that my mother might be entitled to some benefit but we'll look into that separately.  My question is about a benefit for me, to take in a parent.  I don't think this exists but I figured I'd ask).

EDIT FOR CLAIRTY:  Mom lives in South Africa and has done so all her life.  She doesn’t have any income since she stopped working there and I support her financially. She is an Irish citizen by birth, though, and that’s how she will come to live with me in the UK. 

Keep_pedalling

Sounds unlikely you will get anything but she might. she a UK citizen? If so is she entitled to a state pension, does she receive pension payments from anywhere else.

RAS

She'll need to be "habitually resident" to even access medical care, or benefits.

That's not the same as having the right to reside in the UK. And can apply to UK citizens returning from abroad.

You can't get any benefits for providing her with a home. 

Emmia

I'm going to assume you've not lived with your mother for many years... in case this arrangement is not a successful one, have you considered other housing arrangements (other than being in the same house) that might work as an alternative?

I'm not sure I could live with my mum again. As lovely as she is - we're both our own independent people now.

elsien

What income does she have of her own? Because presumably some of that would be going to make up the discrepancies in your bills?

Rubyroobs

She needs to contribute to living with you. What income does she have ? has she ever lived and worked in the Uk? is she a British citizen?

Cariboudle

Hi all thanks for the comments

Keep_pedalling said:

Sounds unlikely you will get anything but she might. she a UK citizen? If so is she entitled to a state pension, does she receive pension payments from anywhere else.

She’s an Irish citizen but never worked anywhere in Ireland or the UK.

RAS said:

She'll need to be "habitually resident" to even access medical care, or benefits.

That's not the same as having the right to reside in the UK. And can apply to UK citizens returning from abroad.

You can't get any benefits for providing her with a home. 

Yes the plan is for her to live with me full time.  She is an Irish citizen.

elsien said:

What income does she have of her own? Because presumably some of that would be going to make up the discrepancies in your bills?

Really nothing. Except what I send.  I have been supporting her financially for a while now.  

Emmia said:

I'm going to assume you've not lived with your mother for many years... in case this arrangement is not a successful one, have you considered other housing arrangements (other than being in the same house) that might work as an alternative?

I'm not sure I could live with my mum again. As lovely as she is - we're both our own independent people now.

This is also a concern lol.  I am looking forward to it because I love spending time with my mom but it’s going to be an adjustment for us both.  We haven’t considered other living arrangements for her because it’s going to be a huge change for her after living most of her life abroad (South Africa), and I would rather she’s with me so I can support her in the transition.  

Rubyroobs said:

She needs to contribute to living with you. What income does she have ? has she ever lived and worked in the Uk? is she a British citizen?

She is and Irish citizen but has no other income besides what I send.  If we formalised her living with me into a lodger agreement would she get help towards the rent?

Muttleythefrog

Cariboudle said:

She is and Irish citizen but has no other income besides what I send.  If we formalised her living with me into a lodger agreement would she get help towards the rent?

Not even an Irish state pension? I find it hard to comprehend a 70 year old woman has zero income in Ireland.

On your question.... renting to relative (you're living with) who then claims help with those housing costs can be a tricky area... others better to advise on chances of success there.

Keep_pedalling

Your mother should be entitled to some form of state pension from the age of 66. Either contributory if she qualifies for it or non- contributory if she doesn’t.

She won’t be able to claim the latter if she does not live in the ROI.

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social-welfare/older-and-retired-people/state-pension-contributory/

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social-welfare/older-and-retired-people/state-pension-non-contributory/

Emmia

Muttleythefrog said:

Cariboudle said:

She is and Irish citizen but has no other income besides what I send.  If we formalised her living with me into a lodger agreement would she get help towards the rent?

Not even an Irish state pension? I find it hard to comprehend a 70 year old woman has zero income in Ireland.

On your question.... renting to relative (you're living with) who then claims help with those housing costs can be a tricky area... others better to advise on chances of success there.

I'm not sure how the Irish pension works, but from an earlier post, she's lived in South Africa for most of her life, and has never worked in the UK or Ireland...

Does she have any SA pension entitlement that can be claimed? What income is she currently living on?

Rubyroobs

If she doesn't have sufficient Ni contributions for a state pension then it will need to be pension credit she claims. UK citizens aren't just left with nothing.