fifinjulz08

Hi just wondering if anyone has any knowledge on housing benefit in the uk, I have been living in Spain for ten years but sadly due to the death of friends and separation of partner I am now desperate to return to the uk, I have had my property on the market for a long time with no joy in selling it. I am now desperate to come home, I read somewhere that I could possibly claim housing benefit until my property is sold, is anyone else aware of this? I would be more than happy to pay all money back when sold but I'm desperate.
I am 68 so would struggle to find employment.

Any advice helpful.

Regards

larrabee

Hi fifinjulz08 and welcome to the forum.

I'm sorry to hear of your situation.
I'm afraid I can't answer your question directly although there are many helpful folks here who I'm sure will be able to help you.
In the meantime you could perhaps take a look here

https://www.gov.uk/benefits-adviser

to see the benefits to which you may be entitled.

morayeel

I sent you a PM.

windsong

I just tried this benefits advisor - just for kicks! I put in that I am not working, that I have one thousand pounds in savings, that my weekly rent is 150 pounds, no other income, and it gave me 71.70 JSA a week. This was strictly hypothetical and the numbers are not real, but how is someone supposed to live on 71.70 a week? Am I missing something? What about all the stories we read about people claiming JSA who make more than if they were working?

brightonbelle

need to update

brightonbelle

Hi,
under the old system there was a grace period of up to 26 weeks in which to sell the property enabling a person to claim HB. However, there were only three mitigating categories......single parent with young child/children.....fleeing domestic violence.....or large family needing two homes.

I do not know under the new system if the above is still in effect.

I would think that the best thing is not to be a homeowner when you get back. You could reduce the price and sell? get the ex partner to buy you out and remove your name from the property? or the only other option is to rent it out and use that rent to fund a place in the UK.

But I may be wrong and someone else knows more about the new system and having two homes and any entitlement...would advise you to contact shelter/citizens advice or the local authority of the area you are intending to move to for more accurate advice.

Ty

Lorac05

It isn't just JSA that people can claim - it is other benefits that can up the income from benefits like housing allowance, child benefit, council tax allowance etc. These can and do add up in some instances (but not as many instances as some would like to have us believe) The figure you quote is however about right for JSA alone per week.