How will being a lone parent affect my Housing Benefit?

In general, claims for Housing Benefit from lone parents are not treated any differently from other claims. This is particularly so if you are receiving Income Support or Income Based Job Seekers Allowance. There are, however, important differences if you are working or receiving other income.

I am working. Will all my earnings be taken into account?

No, as with all claims we will disregard any tax, National Insurance and half of any pension contributions you pay. Additionally, as you are a lone parent we will disregard the first £25 of your earnings.

I pay child care costs. Are these deducted from my income?

Yes, provided these are made to a registered childminder or day nursery and your child is aged less than 15 (or 16 if the child is disabled). The amount we disregard may change each year. For 2007/08, up to £135 for one child and up to £200 for 2 or more children may be deducted from your income.

I also receive maintenance from my child’s father. Will this be taken into account?

We will disregard all maintenance paid in respect of your children. We will also disregard up to £15 of any maintenance paid to you.

I am thinking of starting work. Is any help available to me?

If you have been receiving Income Support or Income Based Job Seekers Allowance for more than 26 weeks and you commence full time work (more than 16 hours per week), we will pay your Housing Benefit as before for a total of 4 weeks, regardless of your actual earnings during this period.

I will be receiving Working Families Tax Credit, is this taken into account?

Yes, this is taken into account like most other income and you must tell us how much you receive, the date it is due to end and the date you were notified of the award.

My landlord is my child’s father - can I get Housing Benefit?

No, the law prevents us from paying Housing Benefit in these circumstances.

My landlord is not my child’s father but we lived here as partners can I get Housing Benefit?

No, if you and the landlord lived as partners in the same property you are now renting the law prevents us from paying Housing Benefit. It is not relevant that your former partner is not your child’s father.

But this house is near my child’s school - are there no exceptions?

No, the law does not allow any exceptions in these circumstances.

I am still joint owner of the former marital home. Will this affect my Housing Benefit?

Not for the first 26 weeks. After that we have to take the value of the property into account unless you are making genuine efforts to sell it.

What will happen when my youngest child leaves school?

You will cease to be classed as a lone parent and your Housing Benefit will have to be recalculated. If no other circumstances change this will normally mean that you will get less Housing Benefit and will have to pay more rent.