Living together on Job seekers help

pineapplehappy

Hi I was wondering if anybody can help me,
My partner and i have been in a long term relationship but not living together ,he lives with his grandfather who has been diagnosed with cancer and so he has become his full time career . My partner gets careers allowance .Their house is a council house but they do not claim rent allowance. I am currently unemployed but looking so i am on Job seekers allowance , I have just found out i am expecting our first baby together and we are planning that i will move in with him and his grandfather as he wants to be fully involved with the baby.
In an ideal world i will find something full time that i can go back to after baby is here.
What i need to know is when we declare this to social welfare how will our benefits be effected. We will be declaring it regardless but i would just like to be prepared.
I know i will not be applying for loan parent as luckily i will not be one , do i apply for family income support ? also could we apply for rent allowance.
Any advice or info would be great thank you .

Mrs OBumble

If you're in a council house, then you don't get (or need) rent allowance: the rent is already and based on your income.

The first step is that the grandfather will need to get permission from the council for you to move in, and the rent will go up based on your income.

Family Income Support is for people who are working, not people on benefits. Ask Welfare how to apply for it after you get a job.

Child Benefit is for any parents with children. Ask Welfare how to apply for it after the baby is born.

I think (may be wrong) that you will go on your partner's claim as a qualifying adult.

Something to keep in the back of your minds: if the grandfather dies, then the house will most likely have to go back to the council. You may need a plan for where you would move if this happens (hopefully it won't for a very long time). If you need to move to private rental accommodation, then you may get rent allowance.

pineapplehappy

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

If you're in a council house, then you don't get (or need) rent allowance: the rent is already and based on your income.

The first step is that the grandfather will need to get permission from the council for you to move in, and the rent will go up based on your income.

Family Income Support is for people who are working, not people on benefits. Ask Welfare how to apply for it after you get a job.

Child Benefit is for any parents with children. Ask Welfare how to apply for it after the baby is born.

I think (may be wrong) that you will go on your partner's claim as a qualifying adult.

Something to keep in the back of your minds: if the grandfather dies, then the house will most likely have to go back to the council. You may need a plan for where you would move if this happens (hopefully it won't for a very long time). If you need to move to private rental accommodation, then you may get rent allowance.

ah ok thank you for clearing that up. So as his carer my partner will have to ask permission for his grandfather for me to live there, and we will both be living on his carer's allowance income of €208 and the rent will increase ? The reason i asked about rent is they struggle to pay the rent as it is so we were hoping with me there if i had some form of benefit income i would obviously split the bills and rent with him .

Mrs OBumble

Your partner's benefit will go up if you are added as a qualified adult.

Together you will get less than than (your current JA PLUS your partner's current CA) - but still more than your partner is getting now. Also the grandfather should be getting a pension (or illness or disability benefit if he's not old enough for pension).

If they are struggling to pay the rent on a council house, there may be something wrong with what benefits they're getting: I'd suggest asking someone like People's Resource Centre or Vincent de Paul for help with reviewing what they're getting.


Before you move anywhere: the person whose name is on the lease - I'm guessing the grandfather - needs to ask the council for permission to have you move in. (If the grandfather is to sick to do this, then whoever has Power of Attoney need to do it - that is the only person with legal permission to make official requests on the grandfather's behalf.)

fyi, if the house has less than 3 bedrooms, then the council may say "no", because the house would be inadequate after the baby is born.

Gatling

The council may also require you to sign a contract stating you won't have any legal claim to the property if anything happens to the original tenant ie the grandfather ,if they allow you to move in

haveringchick

Hi OP
Some mistakes in the advice you have been given above but we can correct that here
You need to tell your SW office that you are moving house
I presume your payment is 188 per week?
You need to claim for your partner as your qualified adult
You will receive a further 124 per week
When your baby is born you will receive 29.80 for he or she
Your partners current claim for Carers allowance will be reduced by 50%
So your household income will be
Partners fathers pension +
Your Jobseekers 188+
Dependent adult. 124+
Child. 29.80+
Partner Carers all. 102+
Child benefit 135 per month
Your partner has to inform the council that you have moved in and add both your names to the tenancy agreement. It may be possible for you and your partner and baby to remain in the house should his father die
The council will require proof of your jobseekers payment and they will adjust the rent upwards as there is more income coming in
Is the older man over 70? If he is he will retain the free electricity allowance and tv licence