Housing Benefit/Council Tax query

dmg24

quidsinquentin wrote: »

I've just found out from Shelter, that given the circumstances in the OP, he may be able to claim HB/CTB. But it would be investigated in case it was a 'contrived tenancy'.

I understand that it would be worth a claim and that it is allowed.

It might be worth contacting your local authority before doing it, as if it is not allowed, your Dad will be burdened with the rent to pay. Certainly no harm in asking the question though!

Scarlett1

Sounds like shelter dont know either as they said 'may', so its best course of action would be to contact the housing benefit section at the local council, I was told HB is not paid to somebody who lives with a close relative who owns the house, there is a member on here Sue who im sure works for the HB section who might be able to tell you eitherway.

sarahlouise210

quidsinquentin wrote: »

Sorry, don't quite follow?

while he is staying with his ex wife he is suitably housed even though it is awkward - if he was to be staying with a friend who did not have a spare room but was allowing him to sleep on the sofa then he would not be suitably housed. If he went to the council and said that it was a condition of him seeing his child that he was suitably housed then they may give him somewhere - this is what happened to my friend. Scenario - my friend split up from his GF - he then had to stay with a friend (cramped) my friend wanted overnight stays with his children - mother would not allow until he had his own place - he could not get his own place as really difficult to afford on his own especially paying maintenance for children - council gave him a 2 bedroom flat so he had somewhere to live and somewhere for his kids to stay with him.

quidsinquentin

dmg24 wrote: »

It might be worth contacting your local authority before doing it, as if it is not allowed, your Dad will be burdened with the rent to pay. Certainly no harm in asking the question though!

Dad????????? Not my, THE Dad! :rotfl: Be funny if it was my dad - he's dead!

http://england.shelter.org.uk/advice/advice-7386.cfm

quidsinquentin

sarahlouise210 wrote: »

while he is staying with his ex wife he is suitably housed even though it is awkward - if he was to be staying with a friend who did not have a spare room but was allowing him to sleep on the sofa then he would not be suitably housed. If he went to the council and said that it was a condition of him seeing his child that he was suitably housed then they may give him somewhere - this is what happened to my friend. Scenario - my friend split up from his GF - he then had to stay with a friend (cramped) my friend wanted overnight stays with his children - mother would not allow until he had his own place - he could not get his own place as really difficult to afford on his own especially paying maintenance for children - council gave him a 2 bedroom flat so he had somewhere to live and somewhere for his kids to stay with him.

Where was that? Part of the country I mean.

quidsinquentin

Oooh - before I forget.

Shelter also told me that in order to get HB, the DSS would contact the landlord to find out what the rent was before paying it out, so effectively the landlord would know that you were a HB claimant.

dmg24

quidsinquentin wrote: »

Oooh - before I forget.

Shelter also told me that in order to get HB, the DSS would contact the landlord to find out what the rent was before paying it out, so effectively the landlord would know that you were a HB claimant.

No, they would not, as long as you can provide proof of the rent that you are paying. The DWP are not allowed to contact them without the claimant's permission. Benefit claimants do have a right to privacy!

Sorry, about the Dad comment x

quidsinquentin

It's not who you know - it's what you know!