Need housing benefit evidence but family member withholding it

Ashe
Ashe Community Member Posts: 2 Listener
in Benefits and income

I am a pensioner with an adult child living at home.

I cannot get housing benefit until I provide evidence of their income. They are witholding details. I think they could be on Jobseekers or maybe Universal Credit, but they refuse to speak to me and although I leave notes, they go unanswered.

My entire pension goes on my rent, water, gas etc. I have just over £1 left each month.

I am currently using foodbanks to get by.

What can I do?

Can the benefit people find out his earnings on my behalf?

Can the benefit office let the housing people know even if they aren't allowed to tell me?

Comments

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Community Member Posts: 8,816 Championing
    edited June 20

    This does sound like an abusive situation towards yourself. Sadly I went through a similar situation in my own family (I was the third party). Inter family abuse can hide- behavior is tolerated that wouldn't be from a partner as an example.

    You can contact your local adult services for support, do you have a friend or another family member who can help?

    https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/health-wellbeing/relationships-family/protection-from-abuse/

  • Bluebell21
    Bluebell21 Community Member Posts: 3,986 Championing

    Hi @Ashe Welcome to the Community. Does your adult child give you any keep money for living with you?

    Take care.

  • SwiftFox
    SwiftFox Community Member Posts: 1,240 Championing

    Don't you get any pension credit? Or do they need information too?

  • Rachel_Scope
    Rachel_Scope Posts: 3,976 Online Community Team

    Hi @Ashe. Have you explained to them that your son won't tell you his earnings?

    It does sound worrying that he doesn't communicate with you and that you are having to use foodbanks to survive. Has this been going on for a while?

    I'm going to be sending you an email soon, so be on the lookout for it.

  • Ashe
    Ashe Community Member Posts: 2 Listener

    Hi Kimi, I am speaking with my daughter about it, she lives quite a way away and she has offered to donate money when she gets paid each month.

    Bluebell - He used to pay regularly when he was in work, and then for a while when he was out of work - I believe from his savings, but we think he has run out of money and is living on benefits, but he won't give me any information and housing benefit asks for evidence.

    Swiftfox - I am not eligible for pension credit.

    RachelScope - thank you for your email. I may get in touch and explain that he will not give my any information.

    Thank you all for your responses 😁

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