owning a flat

Hi,

Wondered if anyone could advise me please.

I have a child of 15 with chronic life shortening medical condition. Needs regular hospital admissions and ill a lot with a very demanding daily treatment routine even when relatively well.

We are soon moving house and may be able to find the funds to supplement his savings and help buy him a small flat.

He will want to try and work, at least set up a business or something, as he's very determined and bright. However, he's not reliable healthwise, it's a progressive condition, and it looks likely he will need to rely on benefits in the future - and in the short term disabled students allowance if that is still available.

If we do find a way to buy him his own place, will he still get benefits or will it be counted as capital? Currently I can see it won't affect PIP (currently high rate DLA) but that isn't enough to live on if he leaves home and currently we spend his DLA on health related things and there isn't much left over.

As parents we want to feel he has a secure home and it's important healthwise he has somewhere safe and secure to keep his meds and medical equipment...warm, clean and comfortable.

Any advice welcome. TIA Jess

J wrote: Hi,

Wondered if anyone could advise me please.

I have a child of 15 with chronic life shortening medical condition. Needs regular hospital admissions and ill a lot with a very demanding daily treatment routine even when relatively well.

We are soon moving house and may be able to find the funds to supplement his savings and help buy him a small flat.

He will want to try and work, at least set up a business or something, as he's very determined and bright. However, he's not reliable healthwise, it's a progressive condition, and it looks likely he will need to rely on benefits in the future - and in the short term disabled students allowance if that is still available.

If we do find a way to buy him his own place, will he still get benefits or will it be counted as capital? Currently I can see it won't affect PIP (currently high rate DLA) but that isn't enough to live on if he leaves home and currently we spend his DLA on health related things and there isn't much left over.

As parents we want to feel he has a secure home and it's important healthwise he has somewhere safe and secure to keep his meds and medical equipment...warm, clean and comfortable.

Any advice welcome. TIA Jess

Hi J,

A persons "Home"/main place of residence is not classed as capital for the purposes of the Income Related (IR) Benefits "means test" for entitlement/payment.

If the person had enough NI Contributions/Credits for entitlement to Contribution Based (CB) Based Benefits, again, owning their own "Home" should not have any adverse effect on benefit payment.

Before going ahead with this, you might be best advised to seek professional advice from The CAB or the like : Where to get advice or a Financial Adviser who may be able to give advice on the setting up of a Trust, if applicable.

bro58