Name changing as it could be outing but looking for constructive advice.
My elderly dad (87) fell last year, so badly that he ended up in hospital for a week with concussion and multiple rib fractures. Since then he has been housebound and we found a local carer (private) who goes in a couple of times in between me helping out.
This carer has been so helpful and suggested that he should be seeking Attendance Allowance (we applied and this has been approved and is being paid) and he's also now receiving care from social care via a care agency.
Our private carer also suggested that we apply for housing benefit. The context is that my father has rented from a property I own for about 10 years now (it's in my name only). We have only charged a low rent, almost but not quite covering our interest-only mortgage payments which were very low during this time. My father does have some private pensions which meant he could pay me this and still have enough left for bills and food.
However, since we had to remortgage at the end of last year, the mortgage payments have increased by £1,000 and we simply can't afford to cover the difference. The usual rent in the area my father lives is £1,700 pcm for a 2-bed.
He can't move in with us as we have already 2 of our children sharing a room with no spare room or study even.
Carer said that he should be entitled to housing benefit as he has no savings to speak of (probably less than £3k).
Looking at the housing benefit form it does say you should state if landlord is related (as in our case as I'm the landlord but also his daughter) but carer said that as long as you have all the relevant documentation you should be entitled to some housing benefit as they base it on the usual rents for accommodation in the area vs my dad's income (there is currently a shortfall of at least £500).
Does anyone else have any advice or experience of similar situations?