To use benefits to put down a deposit for a house

[Bringinglightandpeace]

Hello all,

This thread is not about me.

I have a friend who is feeling incredibly guilty. This is how it goes... so she applied for benefits, she has children and a husband,,, well technically partner but anyway she received a huge backlog of benefits. She confided in me that she would like to use the money to to put down a deposit for a help to buy scheme or shared ownership. I told her "well you have to use every opportunity that you can get" but in my conscience, I was thinking, is this right? I am on benefits myself so not judging at all. She feels a bit down about it as it's not her hard on money that she used to put a deposit down..but then again some parents give their children money for a deposit... so I guess it's similar.

However, I feel a bit of itch and thought to myself that I don't think what she is doing is right. But then again, I don't want to come across as jealous. What do you all think?

@Waxonwaxoff0 Is it true that anyone can apply for a council house? I'm contemplating it as rent in my area has sky rocketed and we are desperate for somewhere bigger which I can't afford. My daughter is stuck in a tiny box room and she's 10 with asd. I'm a single working mum. You said you didn't get anywhere though so doubt I will either !!

Anyone can apply. But depending on demand in an area you may never ever get on the list high enough to bid

She is being very stupid, first with the fraud (she will be the one taken to court, not him) and second with trusting him to pay a mortgage.

1 She obtained the money fraudulently.

2 That has absolutely nothing to do with what she should do with it. Your concern that she's using it to buy a house rather than something else is confused. The wrongness, if any, was in how she acquired it. Not what she's proposing to do with it.

3 She has allowed a man who has multiple debts to move in with her, which is stupid.

4 She is proposing to hand over her large sum of money to this man, to whom she has no legal connection, which is really stupid.

5 She is giving it to him so that he can buy a house in his name, which makes me despair of my sex.

@lordloveadog

1 She obtained the money fraudulently.

2 That has absolutely nothing to do with what she should do with it. Your concern that she's using it to buy a house rather than something else is confused. The wrongness, if any, was in how she acquired it. Not what she's proposing to do with it.

3 She has allowed a man who has multiple debts to move in with her, which is stupid.

4 She is proposing to hand over her large sum of money to this man, to whom she has no legal connection, which is really stupid.

5 She is giving it to him so that he can buy a house in his name, which makes me despair of my sex.

This, all day long.

[quote lollipoprainbow]@Waxonwaxoff0 Is it true that anyone can apply for a council house? I'm contemplating it as rent in my area has sky rocketed and we are desperate for somewhere bigger which I can't afford. My daughter is stuck in a tiny box room and she's 10 with asd. I'm a single working mum. You said you didn't get anywhere though so doubt I will either !! [/quote]
Yes anyone can apply, they assess people in order of need though.

lollipoprainbow They can but if you have multiple children under 10 or two kids if the same gender they will be expected to share so might not be able to get a bigger place anyway. With one or two children it will most likely be a two bed flat that you’d be offered.

[quote lollipoprainbow]@Waxonwaxoff0 Is it true that anyone can apply for a council house? I'm contemplating it as rent in my area has sky rocketed and we are desperate for somewhere bigger which I can't afford. My daughter is stuck in a tiny box room and she's 10 with asd. I'm a single working mum. You said you didn't get anywhere though so doubt I will either !! [/quote]
Anyone can apply. It entirely depends where you live how successful you’ll be. Where I live there are huge waiting lists even for emergency situations. Whereas where I spent my teens has some available immediately, now obviously there are reasons they are available immediately and they are not in the nicest bit at all, but for anyone used to the area they’re ok.

So it totally depends.

The most important advice would be for her to leave this "partner" who she is funding to get out of debt. He is a leech and will cause no end of trouble for her if she stays with him. Don't wait for him to spend every penny she has and run up more debt before you speak up.

Next she needs to announce to the DWP that he was living there for X period and has now left, but she's realised that might impact the benefit rebate so can they please recalculate. With a large sum it isn't worth the prosecution risk, because she's only got to irritate or make jealous one person like you to end up in trouble. Depending on how long he was there, she may still have some money due. She can then use that money for anything she likes including buying a house. Hopefully she'll then have higher standards for the next "partner" as someone who brings value to her and her children's lives.

@lollipoprainbow anyone can apply, however as you are currently housed you will be lowest priority. You may never be high priority enough to bid on a house. You may also end up being offered somewhere in a grotty area. It's not quite as simple as applying...but yes, anyone can apply.