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Original poster

To use benefits to put down a deposit for a house

435 replies

Bringinglightandpeace · 28/01/2022 14:08

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?

OP posts:
ShallWeTalkAboutBruno · 28/01/2022 14:41

Is it her husband or partner?

Original poster
Bringinglightandpeace · 28/01/2022 14:43

@MogsBestestFurball

The benefits system is not how it used to be... people struggle to survive on benefits... I'm very skeptical that anyone could claim in this way and get anywhere near enough for a house deposit. What's your motivation for posting this OP?
Not a house deposit. A deposit for the help to buy scheme or shared ownership.
OP posts:
DearlyBeloathed · 28/01/2022 14:44

What are you hoping to get from this thread?

You'd never report her (neither would I, btw) so what is the point of this thread other than to slate her?

Original poster
Bringinglightandpeace · 28/01/2022 14:44

@ShallWeTalkAboutBruno

Is it her husband or partner?
Partner by English laws. Husband in their religion's law.
OP posts:
FreedomFaith · 28/01/2022 14:44

I don't think it's a good idea. She's using benefits right now for stability, and wants to use a quite obvious massive chunk on a deposit for a house? What if things go wrong after, they won't pay her mortgage. Benefits will only pay for rent, they don't pay for a mortgage so what does she do then? And if this mortgage is in her partners name, is the house as well? Will she have any entitlement to it or be kicked out if they split up?

That's not weighing in the fact it sounds like possible fraud too, but no idea on that. Overall, it sounds like a stupid idea and not going to make her safer at all.

Original poster
Bringinglightandpeace · 28/01/2022 14:44

@DearlyBeloathed

What are you hoping to get from this thread?

You'd never report her (neither would I, btw) so what is the point of this thread other than to slate her?

I don't know if I should tell her how I feel about the situation or just keep my mouth shut.
OP posts:
DearlyBeloathed · 28/01/2022 14:44

I'd keep quiet.

Cherrybomb197 · 28/01/2022 14:45

Ahhhh... so she is claiming as a single parent but she is not actually a single parent. To be honest growing up I knew lots of people doing that. She might as well save it towards a deposit. But remember that she won’t get housing benefit for a mortgage iirc!

Mrbob · 28/01/2022 14:45

This has red flags all over it for her too. So she is fraudulently claiming benefits which she will then hand over to her partner who will use it to buy a house? And then if he walks out? She can’t exactly claim half the house given that she would then have to admit where the money came from

And this is nothing like parents giving their kids a deposit. It’s like stealing money from a bank

I can’t see that she would ever get away with this and it’s completely immoral.

Original poster
Bringinglightandpeace · 28/01/2022 14:46

@Cherrybomb197

Ahhhh... so she is claiming as a single parent but she is not actually a single parent. To be honest growing up I knew lots of people doing that. She might as well save it towards a deposit. But remember that she won’t get housing benefit for a mortgage iirc!
Yep. She knows this. She is hoping that with her partners wage and her wage, once she gets a full time job, they will pay for the mortgage.
OP posts:
FabriqueBelgique · 28/01/2022 14:47

Using backlog for a deposit is fine I think, because if she’d been getting the correct amount she could technically have saved it up to get herself into a better situation.

However your later post says DP has moved in to pay off his debts.

I’m hugely judging the DP in this situation. He’s letting his partner break the law and he’s letting the government pay his share of the bills so he can get out of debt. She’s got absolutely no security in this situation.

Original poster
Bringinglightandpeace · 28/01/2022 14:47

@Mrbob

This has red flags all over it for her too. So she is fraudulently claiming benefits which she will then hand over to her partner who will use it to buy a house? And then if he walks out? She can’t exactly claim half the house given that she would then have to admit where the money came from

And this is nothing like parents giving their kids a deposit. It’s like stealing money from a bank

I can’t see that she would ever get away with this and it’s completely immoral.

I don't quite understand.

So even if her name is on the mortgage she won't get half the house??

OP posts:
needmoreshinys · 28/01/2022 14:48

I dont think you know enough about the benefit system or her life to be able to say anything.

PIP isn't means tested, she must have been waiting a hell of a long time for the tribunal to get a massive payout. I think it might have knock on affect to housing benefits, but that will probably have been capped at 6 weeks. If need be, tell her to be honest about the housing benefit.

But if you dont know couples can get benefits, I am not sure you know the ins and outs of her situation

SeenYourArse · 28/01/2022 14:49

Right nice drip feed there OP! MASSIVE EXTRA detail…in that she’s actually committing benefit fraud in order to get this money! All the forms make it absolutely crystal clear that any omission of truth is illegal and the responsibility is on the claimant to tell the absolute truth about their circumstances AND to immediately inform the DWP when their circumstances change.

SpilltheTea · 28/01/2022 14:49

She feels guilty because she's knowingly committing fraud. People like her are the reason society looks down on people on benefits.

Original poster
Bringinglightandpeace · 28/01/2022 14:49

@FabriqueBelgique

Using backlog for a deposit is fine I think, because if she’d been getting the correct amount she could technically have saved it up to get herself into a better situation.

However your later post says DP has moved in to pay off his debts.

I’m hugely judging the DP in this situation. He’s letting his partner break the law and he’s letting the government pay his share of the bills so he can get out of debt. She’s got absolutely no security in this situation.

No sorry. I meant. She and her partner have been living together in a private accommodation for a long while. They used to live at her mothers house but left and the council helped (her) get a property.

Her partner has quite a few debts and can be very unreliable when it comes to saving and he spends quite a lot on frivolous things. Anyway, she doesn't want him to pay rent at their current accommodation as she wants him to use most of his wages to pay off his debts. Which is fair enough.

OP posts:
DearlyBeloathed · 28/01/2022 14:50

@Cherrybomb197

Ahhhh... so she is claiming as a single parent but she is not actually a single parent. To be honest growing up I knew lots of people doing that. She might as well save it towards a deposit. But remember that she won’t get housing benefit for a mortgage iirc!
So did I. Loads.
TulipsTwoLips · 28/01/2022 14:50

So she is claiming benefits to subsidise her partner so he can pay off his debts?

She didn’t trust he would pay the rent but wants to get into a shared mortgage with him?

All sounds perfectly legal and a really sound idea. She should crack on 👍🏼

Original poster
Bringinglightandpeace · 28/01/2022 14:50

@needmoreshinys

I dont think you know enough about the benefit system or her life to be able to say anything.

PIP isn't means tested, she must have been waiting a hell of a long time for the tribunal to get a massive payout. I think it might have knock on affect to housing benefits, but that will probably have been capped at 6 weeks. If need be, tell her to be honest about the housing benefit.

But if you dont know couples can get benefits, I am not sure you know the ins and outs of her situation

Yes it's not the PIP that's the issue. The PIP had an effect on another benefit which meant she received a huge backlog from that other benefit, which is means tested.
OP posts:
StoneofDestiny · 28/01/2022 14:51

and a husband,,, well technically partner

He's either a husband or a partner. There is more than a technical difference.

anon12345678901 · 28/01/2022 14:52

She's committing fraud and honestly I hope she gets caught out for it. She is not entitled to those benefits. This is a reason people on benefits get a bad rep, because of people claiming fraudulently.

Whammyyammy · 28/01/2022 14:52

So she's blatantly commiting benefit fraud (declared she doesn't live with partner/husband, when she does for financial gain) , she doesn't have a job, and husband/partner/whatever has high amounts of debt?
I can see mortgage lenders falling over themselves to stump up the cash ....🤔

FabriqueBelgique · 28/01/2022 14:53

Do you have to prove where your deposit money comes from when you get a mortgage?

Original poster
Bringinglightandpeace · 28/01/2022 14:53

@StoneofDestiny

and a husband,,, well technically partner

He's either a husband or a partner. There is more than a technical difference.

I said below that in England he is not her husband legally but in their religion he is.
OP posts:
oakleaffy · 28/01/2022 14:54

If your friend is on benefits, I can’t see her ever being able to get a mortgage?
Do benefits pay mortgages??
If they do, maybe it’s possible to buy a house -
?