How would buying a property for my son affect his benefits?

Springfield66

I want to buy a property for my son who suffers from Anxiety Disoder. He lives with us and only receives Employment Support Allowance. I want to buy a studio flat for him but worry how this would affect his benefits as he has and is likely to have no other income. If anyone can advise or point me in the right direction I would really appreciate it. Thank you

steve51

Hi @Springfield66

Good Morning & Welcome it’s great to meet you today.

I am one of the “Community Champions” here on our site/community.

We have got a number off “Advisors” here on our website.

I will forward your post onto our Benefit Team.

Hi @BenefitsTrainingCo

Can you please help & advice me with this post????

Many Thanks.

Ami2301

Hi @Speingfield66 welcome to the community!

Have a look at the various organisations provided in our Housing Advice section, which may be of use to you.

Do let us know if we can be of any further assistance!

Springfield66

Thank you

Sam_Alumni

@Gill_Scope can you help at all?

[Deleted User]

Hi @Springfield66

If you were to give your son money to help him to buy a flat, that could be difficult. This is because he would then be likely to encounter "notional capital" rules, and need to prove that he was n't buying a property in order chiefly to get more benefit income. 

However, if you buy a flat for him, and put it in his name if you wish, he can invoke a regulation about disregarding the value of property that he owns and intends to move into within 26 months. 

The following is a link to the regulation about notional capital and to Disability Rights information about capital disregards. You'll see that the instances when you can own property you don't live in and have it disregarded for benefit purposes are few and far between. 

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1987/1967/regulation/51/made
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/747845/admh2.pdf

I hope this helps.

Gill_Scope

Sam_Alumni

Thanks so much @Gill_Scope

Springfield66

Thank you all very much