Will moving back into mum's council house temporarily affect her benefits and pension credits

Showmetheworld1983

Hi new to this, so not sure if I have selected the correct subject.

After some advice as I have gone document blind from so much investigation and still without a confident solid answer.

Myself and my partner are currently privately renting, we are looking to leave as it is no longer sustainable due to costs and other factors and the stress is impacting on not only my mental health but my chronic illness as well.

I had a chat with my mum about this and she said why don't we move to hers temporarily until we sort something else out.  I said I would have to look into some things as she is a pensioner receiving guarantee pension credit/state pension and not sure how us moving it would affect this.

So situation is...

Myself and my partner work full time earning around £29,000 each per year (sounds alot, really isn't) due to this we do not, nor are we eligible as far as I know to any help with anything financially.

My mum is in a 2 bedroom council house, gets gurantee pension credit and does not pay any rent or council tax, just a very small amount of water rates (like £9)

I have tried to find out how this would affect her as aware we would be non-dependants, but would be expected to cover the shortfall in rent and council tax, we just don't know how much and I have come to a dead end getting and answer off the council as they only deal with "actuals"

We feel unable to move forward and make any kind of decision as it would be pointless if we moved in and the council billed my mum a £1000pm based on our wages as we would just be right back where we started.

If anyone has any ideas or has been in same/very similar situation, anything help/advice would be greatly appreciated as this adds to the already mounting stress.
Thanks

marcia_

 She would lose her single person discount on her council tax. Thats is 25% of the total amount. 

Showmetheworld1983

Thanks I get very confused with all this.  Is the fact she doesn't pay any CT at all now, due to the 25% single person discount, I don't really understand it all

pmlindyloo

Because your mother is receiving Guarantee Pension Credit then she will currently be entitled to full council tax support so, as you say, she pays nothing at all.

However, when/if you moved in then she would have to pay some council tax and some rent as you would be classed as non dependents.  Her Pension Credit would remain unchanged.

You could put your details into www.entitledto.co.uk to find out the amounts of CT and rent that would change.

Basically your mother would be liable for the rent and CT payments but usually the non dependents reimburse the liable person ie your mother.

Use the calculator and see what the figures would be.  You would need to compete the calculator as if you were already living there.

Are you sure your mother is not already paying any rent because of her extra bedroom?

Showmetheworld1983

Thanks for that.
I have tried using that calculator, but it asks questions like how much rent are you liable for, not sure if that means IF she were actaully.paying full rent.
I popped in like £224.38 per week as that is the amount for a 2 bed in our area IF she was not receiving any financial help, but I don't know how true the figures are that I get back (looks like she would be liable for just under £600pm with us there, but again I do not know if this is right. Bedroom tax was stopped in this area or she just doesn't have to pay it

marcia_

Showmetheworld1983 said:

Thanks for that.
I have tried using that calculator, but it asks questions like how much rent are you liable for, not sure if that means IF she were actaully.paying full rent.
I popped in like £224.38 per week as that is the amount for a 2 bed in our area IF she was not receiving any financial help, but I don't know how true the figures are that I get back (looks like she would be liable for just under £600pm with us there, but again I do not know if this is right. Bedroom tax was stopped in this area or she just doesn't have to pay it

 Yes its her liability to pay even if she doesn't actually pay because her benefits cover it. 

 So you will have to find out what her rent is and the council tax that will be on her bill. 

Showmetheworld1983

Ok thanks, maybe I am working it out correctly then, as the forl allowed you to select council tax by banding on a drop down so kind of automatic. Just keen to know if anyone else has same situation so they cpukd give me a ball park 

marcia_

 If you could post up the rent and council tax liability someone can work it out for you 

Showmetheworld1983

Ok thanks, I will have a look at her paperwork tomorrow 

poppy12345

Does your mum claim either AA, DLA mid/high rate care or PIP daily living? If so there would be no non dependant deductions. If she doesn't receive any of those then you can see the non dependant deductions here, it will depend on your earnings. With your earnings there could be no entitlement to housing benefit for your mum.  https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/benefits/housing_benefit_deductions_when_living_with_non_dependants?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADwswOzBGwOHhXcJBC2VbjU57JeJR&gclid=CjwKCAiA2JG9BhAuEiwAH_zf3tZRplBATfqvkQ1Q860LELzr9Sj3D_U76qxDVwGd7AyNXVGoe4knShoCUh0QAvD_BwE

pmlindyloo said:

Are you sure your mother is not already paying any rent because of her extra bedroom?

Those of state pension age and above are exempt from the bedroom tax. https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/benefits/how_to_deal_with_the_bedroom_tax#:~:text=The%20bedroom%20tax%20means%20you%20get%20less%20universal%20credit%20or,affected%20by%20the%20bedroom%20tax.

Showmetheworld1983

Thanks for your answer.
She does not claim any of the other benefits and we have been through these links many times, they just don't give a solid exact answer. Basically yet again because people work they arw punished for it financially have to pay more. Sounds like we earn buckets but it doesn't go a very long way