Will rent to inlaws affect disability means?

WombleBiddy

Currently we live in a house and we were allowed the HAP payment. We're moving in with my inlaws as they are aging and I need to look after my mother in law. We will be continuing to pay the rent to my inlaws but will SW take this into account for means testing of my Disability allowance?
I doubt HAP for pay towards the rent there? It will be the same rent of €450

My partner brings home €375 as week (pays €50 in maintenance).
I currently receive €149.40

I don't know how to work out what the budget would be and it's filling me with worry. If I could settle what the means would work out to it would be something at least.

splinter65

Am I to understand that you are moving from a house for which you are receiving HAP into your spouses parents home (where you won’t get HAP) and your spouses parents are going to charge you €450 rent for looking after them?

WombleBiddy

splinter65 wrote: »

Am I to understand that you are moving from a house for which you are receiving HAP into your spouses parents home (where you won’t get HAP) and your spouses parents are going to charge you €450 rent for looking after them?

In a sense, we current pay €450 but hap reduces the payment. We'll move into their original house that they built before doing the bigger one. It's basically a living/kitchen and bedroom detached. I wouldn't be so bold as to ask for lower rent.
I am curious as currently they take into account the rent costs into my means. Would they consider the money I pay to my inlaws into my means tests?

0ph0rce0

If your spouse makes 375, minus 50 and you 149.40 that leaves you with 24.40 after paying rent to inlaws.

Surely nothing changes except you will loose the HAP payment?? Or I'm I reading it wrong.

splinter65

WombleBiddy wrote: »

In a sense, we current pay €450 but hap reduces the payment. We'll move into their original house that they built before doing the bigger one. It's basically a living/kitchen and bedroom detached. I wouldn't be so bold as to ask for lower rent.
I am curious as currently they take into account the rent costs into my means. Would they consider the money I pay to my inlaws into my means tests?

Your rent is not taken into account in your Disability Allowance means test. SW don’t take any outgoing into account in any payments.
You need to consider this very carefully because you won’t get HAP if you move into your in laws property so your weekly income will be 525 but you will be paying 450 rent per month.
If one or both of your in laws need full time care and attention then you can apply for 1/2 rate Carers Allowance on top of your DA.

WombleBiddy

splinter65 wrote: »

Your rent is not taken into account in your Disability Allowance means test. SW don’t take any outgoing into account in any payments.
You need to consider this very carefully because you won’t get HAP if you move into your in laws property so your weekly income will be 525 but you will be paying 450 rent per month.
If one or both of your in laws need full time care and attention then you can apply for 1/2 rate Carers Allowance on top of your DA.

Sorry to be clear the rent is 450 a month and between us we get €2100 minus 200 for maintenance.
I don't know if it would qualify for carers allowance. She has arthritis and still has a little use of her thumbs by by next year she will be quite limited. She has some medication but she rarely goes to the doc as she only just turned 70, before that she could not pay for the doc visits. A lil while back she had a bleed in her eye and lost her vision in it but after some surgery has recovered sight.

I've just been looking at carers allowance but I don't know how they access it, like what type of thing is covered?

I know it seems daft to be paying more to live there but it means being near family, I don't have any of my own so it is nice to have that. They need the financial help and it gives us a chance to live somewhere away from the mental neighbours. They have kids next door that are driving me to the edge, I can't handle them screaming, chucking stuff over the wall and just being so abusive. Can't say a word to the mother or they will drive you out like they did the neighbours on the other side of them

splinter65

You would be applying for Carers Allowance because you will be caring for your mother in law. You would get 1/2 rate Carers Allowance on top of your DA.
Your mother in laws GP would need to fill in some of the application form to explain how she needs full time care and attention.
You will need to complete the rest of the form. Your local Citizens Information Centre can help you with all this.
You can get help to write a letter to accompany the application describing all you do for her.
If your current accommodation is affecting your health then it might be a good idea to move. Living with family can be stressful too though so you need to have a good think first.