Help Housing/Benefit Advice.

[Trem]

My best mate (the famous Stu from the scarecrow thread) has been having a rough time of late. He has been living with a total nightmare of a woman (landlady) and he has also been seeing a woman who live up the road from where he was staying.

Long story short, it went tits up and he took an overdose a couple of weeks ago, 60 Co Codomol, after 2 days in hospital etc he came out and got back with said woman, all goes well then she finishes it again, luckily he handled it better and just went to stay at a friends.

Over the weekend I asked my cousin if she wanted him there as a lodger, she was made up about the idea and agreed. She doesn't work and has 4 kids. Stu was chuffed about it as well. I went round today and she has had second thoughts about it due to her being worried about losing benefits, Stu himself is also unemployed. We know he can stay there for a week without it affecting anything.

So first question is does anyone have any idea how much it will fuck up her benefits if he does stay there and pays her roughly £30 a week?

Secondly how urgent is Stu's need to be housed in the eyes of the local council, he will basically be homeless after this week and I fear for the worst after the incidents of the last few weeks.

Help appreciated and no judging please, I have done it all before and I know the score as far as single parents with loads of kids goes in the mind of many. She is family and a good person though.

 

[Malecheon]

Can't help much except to suggest trying the citizens advice bureau: Adviceguide from Citizens Advice

 

[tierk]

NOt lived in England for a while but i am pretty sure that if is made homeless rather then he makes himself homeless - yes there is a difference, as they consider one to be voluntary and the other involuntary with the latter getting help and former being fuc*ed - the council will be obliged to provide him with some sort of temporary accomadation.

It wont be ideal but i would imagine that he would be put up in either a B&B or a hostel of some sort until they can fix a more perma-accomodation for him.

I am also pretty sure that if he is high risk for suicide and can get letters from doctor etc he should get housed faster, then is normal. However, when i say faster then normal it normally takes like 5 years to get a council house - depending on where you live - and fast track will /might reduce it by a year if he is lucky.

With regards to HB (Housing Benefit) i would imagine that any income she gets as a result of having someone live in her house will have a direct effect on the amount of money she receives herself.

IMO best that he lets things take there course and wait till he is officially homeless and then go and throw himself and the council for housing.

 

[old.user4556]

Trem, I'll ask my missus, she works for the benefits bit of HMRC.

 

[Trem]

Trem, I'll ask my missus, she works for the benefits bit of HMRC.

Cheers chum, appreciated.

 

[old.user4556]

Trem,

Apparently (got this info on the sly from the missue) If he's not working, then it shouldn't impact the benefits. However, if he's paying her rent then she needs to declare that as income which (sounds like) will probably impact her benefits.

HTH?

 

[Vae]

Instead of paying her rent why doesn't he contribute the same amount towards household bills or buy shopping to that value. I assume that would avoid the declaration of income bit?

 

[Jupitus]

No idea matey, TBH, but do wish him our best - I feel like he is an honorary Freddy now... *can't find a suitable smiley - is happy ok for that, or sad?*

 

[old.user4556]

Instead of paying her rent why doesn't he contribute the same amount towards household bills or buy shopping to that value. I assume that would avoid the declaration of income bit?

Probably.

 

[Trem]

Well they could just lie I guess, he isn't boning her or anything but would they believe that and even if they don't would it make any difference? They could just say hes living there free of charge until he finds somewhere.

Samm thinks I worry too much and that he is a big boy now but I can't be like that. How bad will I feel if he tops himself. I can only do so much though, ultimately its up to him. CaB needs to be his first port of call.

Cheers Big G.

Cheers all for the advice/nice thoughts.

 

[Scouse]

If I was your cousin I'd simply not declare anything that he contributes. It'll be cash-in-hand anyway (oh how the government would love to ban cash!).

It's a shitty situation really. Your cousin is prepared to help out but in fear of government. I can't describe how wrong that is

 

[Trem]

If I was your cousin I'd simply not declare anything that he contributes. It'll be cash-in-hand anyway (oh how the government would love to ban cash!).

It's a shitty situation really. Your cousin is prepared to help out but in fear of government. I can't describe how wrong that is

She is basically saving his life, I honestly believe that. I fear for what may happen if this doesn't work.

Just tried to ring Stu and tell him what G's mrs said but he must be asleep (or banging my cousin )

 

[Pfy]

NOt lived in England for a while but i am pretty sure that if is made homeless rather then he makes himself homeless - yes there is a difference, as they consider one to be voluntary and the other involuntary with the latter getting help and former being fuc*ed - the council will be obliged to provide him with some sort of temporary accomadation

As true as that is, once the reason for homelesness is established the person making the application is then assessed under the housing act for their need.

A single person, no dependants, no medical conditions (these generally have to be disabilities and the such [I've turned away wheelchair bound old age pensioners before when I worked for a homeless unit]) has no priority whatsoever and will simply be given 'advice' (read: a hostel directory for them to ring around). Only priority cases (as mentioned abovequalify for council provided lodgings, B+B, hostel etc. and even then there is no guarantee they will get one immeadiately.

I beleive the housing act section is 183 or 182. Housing act 1985 iirc. No doubt this has no been superseeded though.


Anyway that's from 8+ years ago so I've remembered best I can.

 

[Pfy]

Sorry, section 189.


189 Priority need for accommodation (1) The following have a priority need for accommodation—
(a) a pregnant woman or a person with whom she resides or might reasonably be expected to reside;
(b) a person with whom dependent children reside or might reasonably be expected to reside;
(c) a person who is vulnerable as a result of old age, mental illness or handicap or physical disability or other special reason, or with whom such a person resides or might reasonably be expected to reside;
(d) a person who is homeless or threatened with homelessness as a result of an emergency such as flood, fire or other disaster.
(2) The Secretary of State may by order—
(a) specify further descriptions of persons as having a priority need for accommodation, and
(b) amend or repeal any part of subsection (1).
(3) Before making such an order the Secretary of State shall consult such associations representing relevant authorities, and such other persons, as he considers appropriate.
(4) No such order shall be made unless a draft of it has been approved by resolution of each House of Parliament

Everyone that approaches the local government as homeless is assessed under that section of the housing act. Don't fall into those catagories, then it's sink or swim time :/

 

[Pfy]

Also, from Housing Benefit : Directgov - Money, tax and benefits

What to do if your circumstances change
You must tell your local council if:

any of your children leave school or leave home
anyone moves into or out of your home
your income, or the income of anyone living with you, changes
your capital or savings change
your rent changes
you move
you or your partner or civil partner are going to be away from home for more than a month
This is not a full list. Follow the links below to your local authority website to find out more.

You could also try looking at Directgov: Find out about changes in circumstances which affect housing benefit claims

 

[Trem]

Cheers Pfy.

I think its the end of the idea really, she doesn't want to risk anything, says she has only just got sorted. She gets milk tokens, school dinners, housing benefit and tax credits to worry about.

Just wished she had looked into this before Stu moved in.

Ah well.

 

[Bullitt]

I've just finished working for a company that contracted Housing and Council Tax benefit out to local councils.

Basically there is a distinction to be made over whether he is a lodger or a live-in tenant. And ultimately that comes down to whether she gives him hot meals.

If this is the case then he would be classed as a lodger and any money he pays her will be classed as income (with it's own special calculation) and affect her housing and/or Council Tax benefit unless she's on a passported benefit (namely JSA:IB or Income Support).

She'd also lose her single occupancy discount for council tax purposes, which would require an adjustment of her council tax benefit.

The alternative (if she's not providing hot meals) is that her claim would stand on it's own and he could apply for housing benefit in his own right.

This isn't 100% accurate i'm sure, as it's been a fair few months since i've worked in benefits. Either way contact the local gov and talk to them about it

 

[MYstIC G]

How's he getting on Trem?

 

[Trem]

How's he getting on Trem?

He moved out of my cousins yesterday and he is now living with a mate of his in a lovely flat and they have said he doesn't have to pay them anything until hes sorted out.

I think he will be ok there, it really is a nice flat.

I think him and my cousin will go out for a drink when hes got money as well, I pray to god they don't have kids, it will be the most gormless kid ever born!