Claiming Rent Supplement from Boyfriend

[sunny505]

My boyfriend moved into my house a few months ago. He is on Jobseekers Allowance. We are wondering if he can claim rent supplement as someone who rents a room in my house. The house is in my name. Is there anything to stop this claim - is it not allowed if it is a cohabiting couple. Could it not be argued that he pays rent to me despite our relationship? Or is there any way that the local authority could even figure out that we are boyfriend and girlfriend?

 

[gipimann]

He's not renting from you, he's co-habiting. You are treated as a couple for the purposes of an application for Supplementary Welfare Allowance.
If the relationship isn't declared when making the application, then he is making a false declaration and may be guilty of Social Welfare fraud.

 

[sunny505]

We were not living together when he started on his JA and he is in fact paying me rent.

 

[Tentman]

Dosen't matter, once he is living in the same house, regardless of whether he is paying you or not, you will be regarded as co-habiting, under DSFA rules. These rule also apply to Supplementary Welfare and Rent Allowance. If you are working, then your bf is obliged to inform DSFA that he is living in the same house as you, otherwise he may be regarded as defrauding them

 

[allthedoyles]

We were not living together when he started on his JA and he is in fact paying me rent.

If you read the small print on your approval letter , you should see where it says that if your circumstances change , you must notify office immediately