IS+DLA and LHA

LucyLou84

Hi just looking for a little bit of advice because I don't really know much about benefits and what im meant to do.

Bit of my background - Im 23 and have CFS/me i have always been unable to work therefore i get income support ( because i havent paid tax to get incapisty benefit) plus the care component at lower rate i've been receiving this benefit for 4 years now.

I am now looking to move out of the family home and move into a flat with me boyfriend to gain independence and move closer to places were i can volunteer. The trouble im having is with the Local Housing Allowance - i've looked on the website and it says for newcastle city for one bedroom i would receive £88.85 but if i lived with my boyfriend would i get this full amount as he works full time getting around £230 a week? Just so i know what kind of rent we can look at.

Also in the area i would like to move, the most safest (i have anxiety issues too) there are mostly 2 bedrooms, is this taken in to consideration?

Also if any one knows about council tax benefit and how its worked out i would be grateful.
Many thanks in advance
Louise

healy

I am not sure how much (if any LHA) you would receive, there are others who will probably post who know, but you will be classed as a couple so you you would not be paid any Income Support. You would keep your DLA though.

Oldernotwiser

If you move into a flat with your boyfriend then you'll be classed as a couple and any means tested benefits like HB will be affected by his income, although your DLA will be unaffected.

[Deleted User]

I suspect the only way you will find out how much,if any LHA you will get is when you apply for it,its beyond the scope of mere mortals to even attempt to work it out,your joint low income should get you something,but if you are both under 25 that might not help
good luck anyway

LucyLou84

This just seems really unfair, the only reason i would be moving is so my boyfriend can care for me as my parents are finding it too hard; and to move closer to the city so i can be nearer voluteer work and once am back on my feet employed work. Yet this is never taken it to account that people do try to help themselves and others.
I'm really upset now because it looks so impossible to do.

Oldernotwiser

I do sympathise in a way but you can't really think that the state would pay your rent to live in a 2 bed flat whilst your boyfriend earns a reasonable wage and lives with you rent free? I think that you need to think things through more thoroughly and maybe take things in easy stages; perhaps separating the leaving home aspect from the moving in with someone situation.

tom9980

I was a little bit freaked out reading your OP because i was in the same situation as you 18 months ago ive had M.E/CFS for 11 years now and about 2 years ago my girlfriend (we have been together 4 1/2 years now) wanted to go to Uni so i agreed i would move out of my parents in the countryside and we would live together in the city so she could be closer to Uni.

We talked to the Jobcentre, Income support, Housing benefit and outside agencies like DIAL but nobody could give us any firm answers about what we would be entitled to, frankly the advice we got was pathetic. Luckily with the support of our parents (both low income families) we somehow made the leap to see if we could do it and i dont regret it for a second, apart from the lack of support and help from certain outside agencies that is.

In the end we live off my partners student loans a tiny amount of IS because loans count as income. We also get most of our rent payed but have to find about £8 a week and our council tax is also payed. We struggle and scrimp and save but we manage to do it all on what i estimate to be around £12,000 a year. Your partner earns about that per year as well and im sure you will get some LHA as well just not sure how much so in theory you will be better off than us, i dont get DLA either (maybe i should look into that). So from a money point of view it is possible to do, the real question is can you and your partner deal with the stress and hassle of sorting it all out because thats the hardest part. Is you partner willing to support you? because at the end of the day it's what will happen.

Dont expect outside agencies to help too much (unless your lucky) you need to make phone calls go and see CAB, Dial/ABLE and get good advice. I went to see the Disability Employment Adviser (DEA) at the jobcentre early last year and talked about permitted work and managed to get myself some voluntary work with a local charity through them. I have also the last 5 years made sure i was enrolled doing part time courses to build up my IT skills with the hope of eventually going back to work part time because i know that when my partner works fulltime we will lose all the benefits. All of this has been with the support of my GP and under his advice.

Just remember to pace yourself dont make your illness worse, but do think very carefully about this. Its not easy getting people on your side because of the sometimes invisible nature of M.E/CFS its not always obvious your someone in real need just keep pushing for the support you deserve.

Good Luck :beer:

calleyw

LucyLou84 wrote: »

with my boyfriend would i get this full amount as he works full time getting around £230 a week? Just so i know what kind of rent we can look at.

Are you talking after tax or not.

Because that is £12K after tax. Making more towards £14.5K/£15K before tax. Not sure you would get a lot. As I know that for WTC for a couple you must be earning less than £16K a year.

Would you still get IS

Yours


Calley

tom9980

calleyw wrote: »

Would you still get IS

Im no expert but as a couple and her being ill the most i think your allowed per week is around £131 per week and since he earns £230-ish they dont qualify you also need to take in to account savings for every £250 over £6000 in savings they have they lose £1 per week. Its very complicated and its why the OP needs to go to CAB or anyone who can give her clear advice.

LucyLou84

Hi went to CAB today and basically if i move in with my boyfriend all i would receive is my lower rate dla of £17 and a small amount of rent, the rest would be from my boyfriend and he would have to support me. Which for me isn't a viable option. CAB also said if we live with other people i could claim single room rent and still get my IS. This unfortunatly also isn't a option due to the nature of my illness.
Thanks for all your advice

dmg24

Good luck with your move LucyLou84, make sure he looks after you! x