Welcome to the DAD.Info forum: Important Information – open to read:
Our forum aims to provide support and guidance where it can, however we may not always have the answer. The forum is not moderated 24 hours a day, so If you – or someone you know – are being harmed or in immediate danger of being harmed, call the police on 999.
Alternatively, if you are in crisis, please call Samaritans on 116 123.
If you are worried about you or someone you know is at risk of harm, please click here: How we can help
Hi everyone 🙂
I want to try to find out why on earth it is that as now a 'single' dad who wants to find accommodation very near to his 3 children, that how come I am only entitled to get Housing Benefit of around £510?? I intend to have my children stay with me 50% of the time (more if i can) but I am on benefit and currently not working. I am receiving ESA due to illness and expect this to continue.
So, my biggest issue is that i have no savings and can't save enough from Benefit alone to get a decent deposit together for a flat. It is SO annoying as I really want to move! I was working away from the children and seeing them as often as i could, but this has become impossible due to illness and no funds to travel as much as I'd like to - one answer now - move!
You'd think that it would be, easy-peasy, but it isn't at all! Not only is finding the deposit almost impossible but, why on earth can i not look at a larger property which is ample big enough to house my 3 children when they stay with me?? It seems that because their mother claims HB for them already that I have to settle for the single Dad lousy studio aprtment fee! It seems very unfair to me as her benefit is around £750 a month and even if I haven';t been able to house them for 50% of the time for the past year or so I fully intend to now so how come I am not entitled to any help then?
Is there no way to a) get help with finding the deposit and b) is it possible for me to apply for a larger property and get a larger amount of Housing Benefit as I need to have my children to stay and if so, does this then directly effect my ex's benefit? We get on well (thank God!) and i do not want this to create an issue between us but i DO think it is fair if the children are with me half the time that I look for a rented property that is bigger to accommodate them comfortably. Why should i have live the single persons crappy little flat life and sleep on the floor so the kids can have a bed? That isn't fair and I am sick of living this way.
Any ideas anyone?
Cheers . . .
Hi and welcome to DadTalk.
I can sympathise with your situation, but the problem, as I see it, is that if the government/councils paid for both parents to accomodate the children in genuine cases such as yours, there would be a flood of people who would would then use the system simply to get a larger house when they don't need it. The changes to the system that the government have proposed of not having a council property for life, so that when your need changes, then you could be given a smaller house, rather than hold onto a large house when others are in greater need might help to resolve the problem, but that's a way off (if it ever happens) and is no help to you at the moment.
Have you spoken to the housing officer at your local council to see if there is any solution to your problem? Also, take a look at the directory of services link on the site to see if any of the links may be of use - there's a link to Families Need Fathers, which springs to mind as being a possible help.
Hi Aragorn,
The housing officer at your local council would be a great place to go for advice. They will be able to explain where you stand legally and if the council should be helping you.
Personally I would start with Shelter, who are a great charity and would be able to offer you advice regarding your rights (and are totally independent) the website can be found here
Let us know what you find out as I am sure there are other dads in a situation similar to yourself, who could benefit from what you are able to find out.
Gooner.
Hi guys,
Thanks for the info. I followed some links and looked at the 'Shelter' site and wondered if anyone knows this:
I MUST find somewhere soon closer to the kids. My issue is that I have been staying with friends when i travel and staying some time with my g-friend. Is it possible to apply to Housing benefit if you are 'looking'?? If I say find a place and it's £650, is it possible to apply or do I have to be in there first and THEN try to get the benefit?? I am on ESA benefit at the mo with an appeal case looming in December, if they say i can't stay on it then i will still be able to claim HB as lack of work and income right now.
My issue I guess is that i can't afford the deposit to get in. I am going to check more with the council as Shelter said there is a scheme where the council guarantees the security deposit and no money changes hand. This is great but I'd still have to have at least one month's rent to cover me while i sorted the benefit application.
So, if i find a bigger place do i tell the HB folks on the form that I have my kids there half the time or does this mess up my ex's HB? Don't want to fall out with her but do want a place very soon.
Thanks for any advice you can give. Got the kids for half term this week til Halloween so that's good! 🙂
Glad Shelter where able to help mate.
Good follow up questions btw.
Anyone know the answers ?
Hi
When me and my partner found out we were having our first child we went to our council they helped us with the deposit. when we moved a few years later (due to issues with our landlady) they said they had a scheme to guarantee the deposit.
I would suggest you go to speak to them but if your council is like mine I would suggest getting the number of the department and trying to get an appointment first or you could find yourself waiting to see someone for hours.
In regards to getting housing benefit before you find somewhere I'm fairly sure they wont let you do that.
Hope you get this sorted and find somewhere suitable to live
Doug
Im in the same boat. I was out of work for 2 years, and having moved back into the area, the council did help me find a flat, helped with the deposit and so on.
This year, Feb2011 the rules for housing benifits for single people changed. Im now only entitled to a room in a house share under current governement guide lines. This means that im losing my one bedroom flat where I have my children, even though the council put me into this flat to help me my accomodate the children.
The details do differ from council to council. because of lab, lib or con. I have emailed my local counciller, and because he wants votes, has put my email I sent to him, directly to people with in the council heirachy.
This is an approach that might work for you.
Welcome to the DAD.info forum.
We don’t like to set ‘rules’, but to make sure that you and the other dads are kept safe, we have some requests. When engaging with the forum, please be aware of the following:
- The forum is not moderated 24 hours per day.
- Many of the moderators do so on a voluntary basis. Whilst they may be able to provide some guidance, advice or support, they may not be able to deal with specifics.
- We are not an emergency crisis service so if you or someone else is in immediate danger, please call emergency services.
- If you are concerned about the safety of a child, please click here to find the support you can get for them (link to new page)
- If you are in crisis, please call Samaritans on 116 123. They are open 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.
We hope you find this forum a supportive environment and thank you for joining us.