I’m claiming housing benefit – why do wandsworth council need to know my flatmates salary? Is this legal?
May 17th, 2010 by admin
I’m currently claiming housing benefit after I was made redundant about 6 months ago. I have now received a ‘review’ form which, I need to fill in to ‘check that my benefit is correct’ – or so it says on the form but why the hell do they need to know my flatmates salary. Is it legal for them to ask for this information??
If anyone can tell me I’d be very grateful.
Thanks
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Housing benefit is paid on the property as well as the individual. If you live with someone earning enough then you will not be entitled to housing benefit because it will be considered that the other person can afford the entire rent.
IE housing benefit will not subsidise rent on a flat for someone who can afford it.
If you have such a big problem with it – get a job.
If you are getting rent from this person then this becomes part of your income. If he or she is living without paying rent, then it could be assumed you and they are a couple. Either way all monies coming into the house should be notified to the authorities.
There is too much fraud regarding benefit payments, and if you have nothing to hide why the problem.
If your flat mate is a joint tenant, the information is not required. If your flat mate is a non dependant on your claim, then this information is required to work out your entitlment.
You can refuse to give it if you wish, but then they will apply a maximum non dependant deduction to your claim. Which is £47.95 per week.
The review form is likley a standard form. If he is a joint tenant just pop a note on the form – Joint tenant, unsure of income.
The reasoning behind asking is that if someone is on a low income and there are members of the household that are working and earnig, then they are expectd to contribute towards rent and council tax. This is done by applying a deduction to the claimants benefits based on the level of the non dependants income. There are circumstances in which no deduction is made, such as the claimant claiming DLAcare.
yes it is, they have to use the info to determine how much u have coming into the house as income. its obvious your flatmate is paying rent and they know this, so tell them. its better than getting your benefit stopped and u ending up being investigated for benefit fraud