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Owning home claiming disability benefits

Hankhomas49

I'm currently on pip ,sdp and ESA

I have several health issues that prevent me from working.
With rents sky rocketing a family member has said they will buy me a house
But as I am unable to work I wanted to know if I could claim benefits if I owned a house

I don't have any savings or money so are reliant on benefits
Many thanks

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Comments

calcotti

Owning a house you live in will not affect ESA (including SDP) or PIP. If you currently get Housing Benefit to help with rent that will stop. You will be able to claim Council Tax Reduction.

Can you afford to maintain a house?

Hankhomas49

Possibly not as I don't have any money apart from benefits I receive the rents are so high and landlord is wanting to put rent up so would have to move out of local area

Hankhomas49

Wouldn't a house be classed as capital for means tested benefit

poppy123456

When you rent you have no other costs to maintain your home.

When you own your home there’s so many other costs involved. It’s not as easy as someone buying you a house.

Hankhomas49

But you can own a house and claim disability benefits the main issue for me is mobility and that's why my family wanted to keep me close by.
As it very difficult to rent in local area

poppy123456

You can own a house and continue with all your benefits, apart from housing benefit. It's just the cost to maintain that house.

Hankhomas49

Thank you for the replies 🙂

Hankhomas49

So would they be able to buy it out right and gift it to me what would be process to go forward with this

calcotti

Hankhomas49 said:

Wouldn't a house be classed as capital for means tested benefit

As advised, if you live in it then it is ignored.

Hankhomas49 said:

So would they be able to buy it out right and gift it to me what would be process to go forward with this

For benefits purposes yes they could (although there may be tax implications for them - not my area of knowledge).

ShirleyW

The house you live in does not count as capital for any means tested benefits.

Many people can and do own their own home whilst receiving means tested benefits.

Myself and my husband have done so for many years since he became disabled.

There are many grants available for things like replacement boilers etc. You may not be able to decorate as often as you would like but careful management and budgeting will help.

If the home your family buy for you is fully modernised with up to date equipment it will be many years before any repairs need doing.

I found that putting a small amount of money on one side for repairs every month helped.

You will need to insure the property but basic buildings insurance is not very expensive. Certainly it is much cheaper than contents insurance.

The peace of mind in having your own property which is suitable for you and where you want to live is worth a lot.