Slightly complicated question here. My DS2 and his GF, who do not live together, have a baby. GF lives with her mum, who is an unemployed single parent in receipt of whatever benefits she's entitled to. GF, also unemployed, (former student) gets some sort of benefits, but not sure what - the baby is under 3 mo, if that makes a difference. She's claiming as a single parent, because they don't co-habit.
DS2 lives with me and DH. We are not on benefits of any kind as we both work and our DC are adults. DS was a student but has graduated with an HNC; he was planning (and had a place) to do an HND at a different college this year, but the course was cancelled and he's left with only the minimum wage (£4.77 for a 19yo) zero-hours-contract part-time job he took a few months ago. He's had about 25 hours a week for the past couple of weeks, but it's more usually 9 or 10.
DS and his GF have been told that he is not allowed to stay over with her at night, because she's claiming as a single parent. (They were reported to the DSS because he had been staying over, helping out with his son, as IMVHO a man should, but I take the point.)
This is the bit that confuses me: If he does stay over, apparently as the only wage-earner in the household, he becomes financially responsible not only for his GF and their DC, but also GF's mother and another baby. And because he generally works under 16 hours a week, he wouldn't be entitled to top-up benefits.
Can anyone tell me if this is correct? It seems utterly astounding to me. Either DS supports three adults and two babies on £50 a week, [plainly impossible emoticon] or he and his GF break up so she can claim, [they're young parents and in love emoticon] or he jacks his job in to move in with her and claims benefits? [wtf emoticon]
Would they be entitled to any benefits if GF and baby moved into my house?
Obviously, he's looking for a better, full-time job, but we're already in an area with high unemployment, and several hundred workers are to be made redundant in the next few months.
A further question. DH and I share our rented home with our two DCs and let a room to an unrelated lodger. If DS, his GF and baby move in here (we have the space) would this make us a House of Multiple Occupation?