CAN'T LIVE AS A COUPLE/FAMILY & CLAIM BENEFITS AS HE OWNS HOUSE?

[farmgirls]

Two unmarried partners. The man owns his own home rent and mortgage free and lives there alone. It's more of a storage facility than a home really, not possible to rent it out or sell it due to it's prohibitive renovation costs. The man is unemployed and claims Jobseeker's Allowance. He pays £5 a week via CSA for his two babies.

The mother of those babies lives with then in a privately rented house, claiming Housing Benefit and Income Support.

The couple couldn't live together because neither works and the man owns property, so they wouldn't be eligible for Housing Benefit if they lived together as a couple, despite the fact his house is in no habitable state (no utilities connected or able to connect due to semi-derelict state of house, etc).

The man has been unemployed for many years and is unllikely to find a job, as he's happy pottering and making Del Boy type cash as and when.

The woman has two babies under 2 and although she'd like to return to work, the man can't be considered responsible enough to care for those two children as he has hobbies involving live electronics and is complacent about the dangers to children.

How would this situation ever be resolved, in order that the people can all live together under one roof as a family, when the man outright refuses to get a job and the woman feels she can't get a job yet because of the childcare issues.

The man is also insistent that they would be left on a pittance if claiming benefits as a couple rather than as individuals, so there wouldnt be enough money to support all the family anyway if they all lived together.

(I know the easy answer is, "Get shot of the man altogether!" but that isn't a realistic option in real life !)

Yup, completely true. DH could not move in with me untill I was working enough hours to pay the rent as his house (the one we now live in) was under going major repair work and was almost derelict, certainly nor suitable for dc to live in.

He was working, but couldn't afford to pay his morgate and my rent. If he did not own his house we would have qualified for HB. But they class the equity in the house as income.

AS how it could be resolved, could she use childcare? He can apply for council grants to get the house up to scratch. He can sell the house?

RealityIsHungover Thanks for publishing my other username you complete OAF. What the hell did you do that for?

For your information, this is to compile a court case, but now you've revealed to all the username it means HE can now trace THIS username, which I'd created to avoid just such action.

why would the mother of two bbies wish to live under same roof as a man who "has hobbies involving live electronics and is complacent about the dangers to children."

stay living apart.

the motehr msut find other childcare. while kids young her wages may only jsut cover childcare but as they get older can use after school clubs etc and get tax credits/childcare help.

really dont see any benefit to having this man around her children at all...

if man is needed for sex/comfort then have him around for those sessions but do not leave in charge of babies ever. leave him to his hovel if that is how he wishes to lvie.

do not take him on in any way financial or otherwise.

'To compile a court case' is to gather evidence to be used in court. www.mumsnet.com/Profile?nick=PrincessToadstool

oh dear... farmgirls, just report the post?

No, I still don't understand why he can't sell it. He can knock the renovation costs of the asking price, surely?

There is nothing stopping you farmgirls from living with this man, you wont be awarded housing benefit as you have no housing costs as the mortgage is paid off, with you both being unemployed you will receive joint income support, council tax rebate, and child tax credits, no different that would you would receive if you lived apart. Your b/f could sell the house as it stands for a lot less but at least that would give him capital to rent elsewhere or get a job and buy another house, although if he sold the house he wouldnt be entitled to benefits if he had more than 6k.

RealityIsHungover So you're back with him then?

No.

is he still hoarding?

im struggling to understand post sorry

no idea what's going on here but no one can advise on the practicalities of getting this couple back together as it's perfectly clear that for the sake of their children they shouldn't even be considering it.

Er, support yourself and don't rely on benefits?

Sell the house? Someone would buy it.

Don't use MN for your court case.

WHy is it not a realistic option to just dump this sorry-arsed loser? If you are afraid of him you can get help such as a non-molestation order to keep him away from you.

Sorry, if I'm being a bit dim, but do you mean you are compiling a court case to appeal the fact that you are not entitled to housing benefit to rent somewhere else as the house is uninhabitable.

I dont know who you are or the history here so forgive me if I'm being blunt but a man who would rather earn "Del Boy" cash than get a job to finance the renovation of his home for the sake of his dc's and would rather faff about with electronics than take proper care of them really isnt worth the hassle tbh.

You have already described all the possible scenarios.

Split up.
Live together and claim no housing benefit.
He gets a job.
You get a job.

All you can do is choose one.

And if he wont get a job to support his own family, why on earth would you want to be in a couple with him?!

Who are you compiling a court case against?

So you want to both live in your home, not working, having housing benefit pay your rent, whilst her has a mortgage free property he could renovate and live in or sell for someone else to renovate?

Nice.

Agree with everyone else.

How difficult is it for you to arrange other childcare so you can work? I have done this myself and know loads of other people who do aswell? Do you have no other outide help? Why can't you just get shot of him?

If the house is not habitable then how can he live there? He can surely sell it as a place needing extensive refurbishment or as a plot for developers?

Sorry for all the questions!