Benefits and having someone stay over
This information applies to England and Wales.
Having someone stay over at your house should not affect your benefits. There are no set rules about how often or how long someone can stay.
Some people think there is a limit of 3 nights a week. This is not true.
But if the DWP thinks someone has started living with you, this could affect your benefits.
Which benefits could be affected
Who you live with affects the following benefits:
- Housing Benefit
- Universal Credit
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Council Tax Reduction
- Pension Credit
- tax credits
- Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
If the DWP thinks someone is living with you
If the DWP thinks someone has started living with you, they will look into this. If the person does not have another home, the DWP will usually decide that the person lives with you.
They may also look at:
- why the person is there, for example if they are your partner
- how much time the person spends in your house
- how many nights the person stays over
- who is named on your bills
- whether you share finances, for example if you have a joint bank account
The DWP might ask you to show that the person is not living with you
You can do this by showing that they have another home. For example, you could show:
- their Council Tax or other utility bills
- their bank statements
- their tenancy agreement
Warning Your benefits could be suspended
The DWP may suspend your benefits while they look at whether someone is living with you. If this happens, you can ask them to reconsider the suspension. It is a good idea to get advice.
Find a benefits adviser (Turn2us)
If someone moves in with you, you must report this to the DWP immediately. Your benefits could be reduced or stopped if you do not.
Last reviewed by Scope on: 18/07/2024
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