What happens with housing benefit when a spouse dies?

[EachandEveryone]

Asking for my 70 year old neighbour as the son keeps texting me. As if I haven’t got enough on my plate.

basically I get on well with my neighbours. Husband died ten days ago suddenly. Neither have worked for at least thirty years and he was on extra payments for his sickness etc. they are on the old style and a protected tenancy from the early 90’s. The rent is very little for a three bedroom in London. Probably what you would pay for a one bedroomed. So, now he has gone has she got to change anything obviously his benefits have stopped but does anyone know if they continue paying the rent? I can’t beleive I’m even asking this but their grown up son keeps texting me (I’m away) asking what to do and she is s terrified of losing her home.

thanks in advance.

Why can’t the son find this information out & help his mum?

She needs to apply for everything in her own name. Point son towards DWP.

Id reply to the son telling him you have no idea.....and block his number!

Because he has PTSD amd other things. Although he somehow thinks it’s fine live there and work full time which is why I suspect he doesn’t want to get involved. I’m sure it must be just a case of changing names as they have the old style tenancy,

They need to inform everyone. Hb will recalculate based on the changed income

They’ll need to ring the council and get the housing benefit and council tax reduction put into her name. Should be quite straightforward and you might even be able to do it online depending on the council. I did it for MIL last year after FIL died and only took 10 mins.

Honestly he sent me 20 messages last night even though I’m waiting for a cancer treatment plan and was up north with my family for Xmas. He has no boundaries but I do love his mother.

There might be a Housing Officer associated with the accommodation who could sign post; or the council/Local Authority Bereavement service?

You could suggest the son explored these two suggestions and sign off with a reminder that you are away and will not respond further.

So sorry for the family, it is a brutal time but it isn't your problem.

It’s private rent but council prices. I pay three times more for the same thing so I reckon it’s through the council.

Ok send him my message above then block him til you return, deal with him then.

Yes of course they keep paying the rent but if she wasn't on the tenancy then that's what needs to happen. It can be transferred once I believe.

Hb will want to know who lives in the property and they want their incomes.

I imagine she is on it they’ve been married 40 years. I’m going to block him for the rest of the day. I need to get home and play with my cats 😀

Did I understand correctly that the son lives with his parents and works full time?
If so, this will have a bearing on council tax and rent benefits.

This. If he's working full time I'm surprised they were able to claim housing benefit, the son would normally be expected to cover the rent with his wages.

Speak to her direct. The son sounds very self interested!

He wants you to deal with it, so no one can find out that he has been defrauding the taxpayer ( which I presume includes you).

I would think any benefit dept would also want to see the death certificate. The son can deal with that.

It’s because he’s been in the army so off and on there. That deffo is not my problem!