Partner in Prison

[delboy1968]

Please can you give advice.

As my partner is in prison for two years I have contacted Council Tax so that I pay single person occupancy. They have asked to know when he left and a forwarding address. Please can you let me know if I am obliged to tell them that he is in prison will this mean that I am not entitled to single occupancy rate?

As he is also on the tenancy agreement do I need to let the Council Housing department know that he is currently in prison does this effect his tenancy status. As my earnings are above the threshold I am not entitled to any housing benefits so do they need to know. If I tell council Tax that he is in prison will they inform the Council Housing department?

Please advise

Kind regards

[sara3]

when it comes to benefits, you have to tell the truth. they will check on possibly anything, and if you're found to have not been honest you could find yourself in trouble. I believe you will be entitled to the council tax reduction.

I don't see any reason why the council tax people would inform anyone else, and I don't see that it would affect your tenancy, assuming it's a joint tenancy.

best of luck, it must be a tough time for you.

[factor-fiction]

I don't speak from experience on this matter but I've done some web searching for you.

This link will help reagrding single person discount where one person is in prison..
http://www.westberks.gov.uk/index.aspx?article id=1932
In calculating the number of adults living in a property, they will not count your partner if he is prison, provided he is not in prison for non-payment of council tax

You must inform the Housing Dept. This link explains the need to provide information to the council if a tenant goes to prison.
http://www.foursquare.org.uk/pdf/prisoninfo.pd f

This link may also help regarding housing benefit.
http://www.camden.gov.uk/ccm/content/housing/h ousing-benefit/housing-benefit---frequently-as ked-questions-faq.en?page=12