I've had my letter with a deadline to switch from working tax credits & tax credits to Universal credit

[Guest]

I am beside myself with worry. Long story short I'm a lodger in my youngest daughters dad's house. I basically rent the house and him a room. He works extremely long hours and is never home and when he is I'm at work so works perfectly.

We split up not long after she way born but Co exist, no financial assistance on his side. He pays bills expect gas/electric and food which falls on me. I also pay 350 each month towards rent (mortgage).

I know I can't get help with rent due to being daughters dad (I never knew this when agreed and had assumed I'd be able to claim rent) but what I'm worrying about is switching to uc is them putting me on a lower rate or stopping claim altogether due to situation I'm in.

By being a lodger and not a tenant and being daughters dad I'm worried they conclude my wage is enough to live on and being forced to get a new job with more hours.

I have just started homeschooling my daughter due to severe mental health issues and with no childcare its just not possible unless I work through the night and survive on no sleep.

[Wendy]

This sounds strange! A lodger usually rents a room at a flat rate all bill included. You don't appear to be the lodger, he does! I suspect you may have a problem when claiming UC and potentially could run against issues with WTC anyway. You need advice from CAB or other welfare rights group.

[Tracey]

That sounds more than rent a room, you pay £350 half of mortgage, gas, electric & food, that’s sharing the running costs of a home.

[Maurice]

Sounds complicated and it looks like your claiming for things you shouldn't be claiming for be careful they will catch you out and stop your benefits that's why they are moving people on to the new system.

[CindynSamone]

Hang on, you pay a mortgage but you are only a lodger and you rent him a room?, or you mean you own the house and he's a lodger

[Sue]

I suspect that you will be considered to be cohabiting, as he is the father of your child and you share bills.

[Annette]

You could be liable to pay back wtc as if he is living there regardless of your circumstances it would be classed as a joint claim. Going onto uc will undoubtedly mean you will more then likely be worse of as they too will look at it that you are a joint claim. xx

[Kelly]

You definitely need an official agreement in writing about your living circumstances as at the moment it just looks like you are still in the house of an ex partner, sharing household expenses and care of your joint daughter…. So therefore they could see it as a joint claim.

[Emily]

I’m not sure about the rent issue but if you can claim carers allowance then UC won’t hassle you to find work or do more hours. To do this you apply for DLA for your daughter, gather as much evidence as you can of how her condition effects her everyday life (if she is unable to attend school due to her mental health this itself shows what an impact it has on her life) speak to her GP (they can provide a letter although they normally charge for this) and do a subject access request for her medical notes. You are carer for your daughter so you shouldn’t be hassled to find work x

[Michelle]

I think if you’re going to explain that to UC I’d word it very differently as it sounds like you rent the house and charge him rent for a room - income that will go on you’re claim even if it don’t exist. Make sure to explain it in a way that is clear you are renting off him completely. You really should look into a tenancy agreement of some kind too tbh just so it’s all above board.

Re UC itself we personally don’t get any money as currently hubbys income is too high but we opened a claim because his hours are not always set and income changes so wanted the back up. On a bad month where he don’t have overtime or something happens and he don’t get his normal pay we are actually entitled to more than what tax credits claimed we were. Tax credits work on the year before income where as UC is in real time so it avoids the overpayments etc that tax credits slam people with.

[Alex]

Very confusing details..