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Original poster

Should I take housing benefit?

13 replies

Fixx · 22/01/2012 12:46

I am living at my parents house with my autistic son. I have found a great 2 bedroom place up the road and the landlord will take housing allowance. But after reading some of the things on the internet, now I'm not so sure I want to take it!

Sounds like DWP are going to be checking up on me every 5 mins!!!! Will they be round or calling me in for interviews all the time?

I have a boyfriend, but we don't want to live together. So what will happen if he stays over at the weekend? I don't want to end up with my housing benefit being stopped.

Anyone else in similar situation?

OP posts:
yelnats · 22/01/2012 12:49

Me! And like you my boyfriend stays over once or twice a week. I think as long as he isn't living there undeclared then you're fine. When I spoke to my landlord initially I told them that my boyfriend would be staying over occasionally and asked if that would affect either my tenancy or my housing benefit and was confidently told it would be absolutely fine but I should notify both landlord and benefits should he move in at any point. Hope that helps you.

Heatherhills · 22/01/2012 12:49

Dwp don't do hb- it is given by councils. And no they won't be calling you in for interviews every 5 mins. How would you expect to pay the rent without hb?

Original poster
Fixx · 22/01/2012 13:14

I thought the councils sort HB for the DWP?

I won't be able to pay the rent without HB.... so I need to be totally sure before I take it!!!

OP posts:
FoofFighter · 22/01/2012 13:17

Can i just say,I'd ask your council for a pre determination - ie what is the max LHA this is what HB is now, Local Housing Allowance - you can get for your circs and make sure you can afford it.

Gone are the days of 100% rent being paid all the time and you don't want to accept then find that you need to budget to top it up by £20 a week or whatever.

Original poster
Fixx · 22/01/2012 13:39

I will need to top it up and thats fine. i just don't want it being stopped cos they see my bf staying over.

OP posts:
gallicgreetings · 22/01/2012 13:52

I take it your boyfriend has a permanent address elsewhere?

Councils look at a whole range of things when determining if couples are living together. The obvious one being does the bf have another address. They also consider if he makes a contribution to your household. If you have a joint account and he starts paying a load of the bills then there's cause to investigate but staying over a couple of nights probably wouldn't be an issue.

Also Council's need a trigger to investigate (nosy neighbour call usually!) but some may have the resources to do random checks. On the whole, go for it but like fooffighter says, ask your council for a predetermination first so you know how much the top-up is. Also, let the council know about any changes in your circumstances straight away.

Hope it goes well and enjoy your new home Grin

Original poster
Fixx · 22/01/2012 15:23

OK, thanks for that.

He does have his own address and I would NEVER have a joint bank account with anyone so no probs there!!!!

I certainly won't be doing his washing, etc.... and I can't imagine he's suddenly going to start gving me shopping money for food he won;t eat, so looks like it's all sorted :)

Ta x

OP posts:
PinkCarBlueCar · 22/01/2012 19:18

A council worker writes: what gallic said, and as you say yourself, Fixx - there's a range of things a fraud department would look for, and a couple of nights here and there when your BF has an address which he clearly lives at is not going to be a concern.

I would suggest that you give it to your local Council's HB department on record that your BF stops over one or two nights most weekends (or whatever it is). That way, if a nosy / malicious neighbour does report you, they already have it on file as to who your BF is and where he really lives.

Cloudbase · 23/01/2012 00:37

I have HB and have never had an interview/visit etc. But do make sure you update them if your financial situation changes (for better or worse).

I think as far as people staying over is concerned, I believe if they stay over 4 nights a week or more, they are considered to be living there (but do check...) but as a general rule I think they accept that most people have relationships and will allow for spending some nights with them.

gallicgreetings · 23/01/2012 21:52

Nope - that's a load of rubbish about the number of nights a partner stays over. It's all about establishing sole and main residence and the contribution a partner makes to a household in order to be classed as living together.

Think about men who work in London during the week then come home at the weekend. Only home for 3 nights but paying all the bills and making household decisions so classed as living together.

GypsyMoth · 23/01/2012 22:20

You could be on dodgy ground op, they can twist it to make it look like he's a 'partner' rather than bf.

Original poster
Fixx · 24/01/2012 09:04

Right... I'm off to council offices later to sort it once and for all!!!! Report back what I find out!!!! :)

(Fingers crossed it's the number of nights doesn't matter, as long as they don't pay bills, make decisions....)

OP posts:
Original poster
Fixx · 24/01/2012 13:13

Ok, for Hertsmere council it's 3 nights a week. Any more than that and they class it as living together. Glad that's sorted!!!!

:)

OP posts:
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