a purely theoretical question about housing benefit - and probably also quite dim.......

[FAQ]

and it is purely theoretical as I think even if our (dh and me) split is permanent I wouldn't have the heart to drag the DS's away from their friends/schools etc.

However, if you move somewhere totally miles away from where you're currently living - can you still get housing benefit where you move to?

Or am I thinking of something totally different (council housing list?) where you have to have been living in the area for x amount of time to even get a tiny chance of getting a house.

I think you're eligible wherever you are-- you might just have to wait a while for it to come through in the new place.

As far as I know you would be eligable wherever you were.

Housing benefit would be paid where ever you live either to your bank account or directly to your landlord.Housing and council tax are means tested if you have savings over £16,000 then you may not be entitled as you are classes as having an income. Check out your local council web site for more info.

If you were applying for a council house then you may have to go into B&B short term until something became available but different councils have different rules.

thanks - wouldn't be applying for a council house even if it happened......cant' really see me having the balls up sticks with the DS's tbh........

what is your housing siuation like a the moment? becuase purely thypothetically, if you were to split - have you got a legal right to stay where you are

in reality its always best to check thes things out.

I don't want to stay here if we split up - I know what I'm entitled to here when if we split up - but I didn't know what the rules were if you moved to a totally new area and applied for HB etc.

I'm not sure if you can get housing benefit if you have a mortgage and it does not cover the whole mortgage payment.

I don't have a mortgage - and if our split is permanent then the house would be sold anyhow - neither DH or I could afford to keep it.

It goes on income and savings. But I'm not sure what the situation is if you own a property - I think they ask on the form. I'm not sure what the implications are.

well legally I don't own a property - DH owns it......(well mortgage is in his name and AFAIK I'm not named on the deeds.......)

and actually if I moved it would only be once it was apparent that our split was permanent - by which time the house would have been sold.

then it would be based on your income and any savings etc I think.

So if you moved out and rented a property and you are on a low income you should be entitled to HB and CT.

thanks - my main concern was that I'd render myself ineligible for them as I'd only just moved to the area IYKWIM.

it doesnt matter what area you are in you are enitled to it

the only problem you will have is finding pivate rented that accept epople on benefits

and that the benefits ystem wil pay or

becuase they wont pay for everything - and i suspect that excersise will be quite draining

the other thing that you ill need to consider is that you wll need a deposit

and yo might be expected to pay the ret until your HB kicks in - which in some cases can take a few months

you could be talking about a thousand pounds at that pint
and yo havent even furnished the place or bought washing machine

the rent thing would be ok - I'd have to do that where I am now if/when we split up....and have money coming in that's available.

furnishing - freecycle and auctions are great places (not to mention local paper ads)......oh and friends/family that offered stuff last year when we nearly split