Renting a room out on benefits

[skintmortgagepayer]

On income related ESA you can earn up to about £130 (I think) a week doing certain types of allowed work (that don't go against your reason for claiming).

I'm wondering, is it possible to class being a landlady to a Tennant as work for this reason?

My mortgage has doubled, I have no chance of working outside the home and expected lifespan of only 3 to 4 years, hence the reason for my question. Ironically, if I were renting my rent, or a huge proportion of it, would be paid by housing benefit. I am only on PIP and ESA and now can't afford any heating, minor repairs and have lost weight due to having to cut back on food.

I live alone so also have to cover all utilities and other bills alone.

If this isn't possible, does anyone have any ideas of allowed work I could do at home? I'm happy to work, and miss working a lot - noone expects to end up in this position so I really hope replies are kind and not just getting at me because, believe me, I would absolutely love to be healthy and back at my old job.

There’s a £10 a day thread on here which is useful for a few quid. Surveys/ micro tasks often the sort of thing that can find on a sofa with your feet up.

I think you’d need to chat to an accountant to charge some sort of management fee on property you own.

Kindly if I owned property and was told I had 3-4 yearsId sell it and enjoy myself with the proceeds.

This is going to sound so stupid - I hadn't even thought of selling as I've been here 10 years and it's home. It's a good idea though, so will definitely give it serious thought.

I'll look for the £10 thread you mentioned, thank you for helping mem

Assuming you are claiming Income related ESA then you will likely be getting a severe disability premium on your ESA claim if you live alone and no-one claims carers allowance for you. You need to bear in mind you could lose that if you take in a lodger as would no longer be classed as living alone unless there is some kind of exemption for lodgers. I think it is a bit of a grey area but something you definitely need to check out before you take a lodger in !

As I understand it legacy benefits usually deduct lodger income £/£ after a £20 disregard but that may only apply if the tenancy is treated as commercial.

Although adviser shorthand is that you must live alone to get a Severe Disability Premium (SDP) the reality, on the margins, is a little different. If you have a non dependent - say a grown up son or daughter - with you then you won't get it. If however you share your home, for example sharing a flat, then you can still get an SDP.

In the OP's case then there would also need to be nobody getting Carers Allowance.

OP may also want to explore if, with a lodger, they are better off on Universal Credit. In that case lodger income doesn't count but your lodger will not be part of your household for under occupancy so, if you rent, you'll still be caught by the 'bedroom tax'.

Thank you all for your replies and advice. They are all very useful and have given me a lot of places I can contact or search for a different approach to my financial worries.

I really appreciate that you've all taken time to reply.

Read this
You may not be eligible for single person council tax deduction
https://www.gov.uk/rent-room-in-your-home

Sorry to hear your troubles

Have you contacted the bank to change to interest only mortgage ? It was in the news recently, that banks are allowing due to cost of living crisis

Thank you for this information. This actually makes sense because really, if I'm not going to live long enough to repay it all (before the inevitable) then paying interest only should save quite a bit. And I'm sure my kids would not care whatsoever about IF they get any inheritance - they certainly aren't expecting an. Thank you so much. I'll call mu mortgage provider tomorrow and let you know how, I get on.

Thank you for this. I hadn't even thought about council tax. The way it reads, councils have discretion to either charge full or not, so I would have to ask my local authority.

Crikey, I am so stressed about this. I keep thinking (and I know this is very wrong of me but I'm just struggling, that if it was cancer u had, there is so much help available, including mental health and wellbeing support. I genuinely don't mean to upset anyone by thinking that, but I really do think thst would be easier - more support across the board.

Im sorry, I'm just having a shit lonely week this week and so xed shat the point is any more.