Paying rent and Housing benefits

Tootoo91 wrote: »

I am 21, working full time, studying part time and I live with my Mum, it is just me and her.
We live in a council house, she does not work because of long term sickness and she is on income support and other benefits.
Does your mum receive DLA care?

Before I started working she was entitled to 100% housing benefit and the rent was paid for by the government.
However when I started working the council informed me and my mum that I would have to start paying rent.
They don't actually say you have to pay rent but what they do is pay your mum less housing benefit so the gap needs to come from somewhere and as you have an income then it would be from that

They took my wage slips and based what I have to pay, on my monthly income before tax. At first it was £250. However they started increasing the amount, from £250 to £300 and now they are telling me they want £410.
You can look up the non-dependant deductions on your councils website but the maximum deduction for those with a non-dependent earning over £394 gross per week is £80 per week
example http://www.sandwell.gov.uk/info/200118/housing_benefit/423/housing_and_council_tax_benefit/12

Telling my mum that if I did not pay this she would lose the house, saying she wouldn't want to lose the house she's lived in for 15 years.
If the gap is not paid then arrears will build up


My monthly income before tax is, £1600, but after tax it is £1250 and I have bills to pay as well as supporting my family financially. I am trying to save money to go to university in a few years, but I just cant when I have to pay so much. They are forcing me out of my childhood home and away from my mum, who needs me to help look after her.
If you are 'forced' out of the home away from your mum where are you going to live and what will it cost you?

I am uneducated about this system and would like a separate, unbiased opinion because I just do not feel like I am getting a fair deal. I am having to work overtime every week to try and get some money saved up.
The maximum deduction is £80 per week so even if you double your wages the housing benefit would not be reduced further


I dont trust the people that my mum talks to from the council, she has spoken to someone separate from the council, briefly about another matter, and they were surprised at the amount I have to pay, and did not agree with the amount.
They were maybe surprised that the figure looks like it is more than £80 per week

Just another opinion or someone that I could go and speak to would be just so helpful.
Thankyou for any reply.