Lodger/benefits/cohabiting?

A question about : Lodger/benefits/cohabiting?

I am female 64 years of age, on M.I.G. I own my own house (paid for) and get 100% council tax relief.
I would like to take in a lodger a person I know and is in need of accommodation.
Many years ago I rented out a room in my house to a friend in dire straights, only to be accused by the benefit office that I was cohabiting! NOTHING could have been further from the truth I assure you! (gatita shudders at the thought ) They made my life a misery, so in the end I asked him to leave.
This is why I am hesitant now, can they IMPOSE their view, and what criteria do they use? I have looked at the very useful link posted on here, but it certainly doesn't give a definite answer. PLEASE could someone help me on this.

Best answers:

• IS20 - A guide to Income Support (IS20 Apr 2004) has quite detailed information about how the decision is made. It also contains information about how the income from lodgers affects your benefit.
  If may be helpful if you can show it is a commercial arrangement so a written agreement detailing how costs are allocated might come in useful. It would also be helpful if you could show separate sleeping arrangements and individual housekeeping arrangements. Further details here Living together as husband and wife – decisions relating to unmarried couples
• Thank you Ted for your as ever detailed reply what would we do without you! I have read, studied the links you gave me : it still seems a very grey area and dependant on the officer dealing with the issue?
  The thing is I want to find out BEFORE I say yes to this person, and avoid problems for him and myself, the rule book doesn't take this into account or so it seems to me? they assume that the couple are already living under the same roof.........
• The onus of proof is on the DWP and I think you need to be a little more assertive in your dealings with them.
  If you set down in writing what the arrangement is with regards to your lodger and it is clear who is paying for what, you keep two separate household accounts and each of you have separate living spaces then if your benefit is stopped you will be in a good position to appeal. You mustn't let them bully you. It is wasteful on resources to have people living in separate accommodation when sharing a house makes it financially more viable for both parties. If you know that you are not living as a couple and have no intention of doing so then I don't think you should allow the DWP to intimidate you into not being as altruistic as you want to be. If it was a same sex house share arrangement then there would be no problem.
• Thank you again Ted, Yes you are right, when I think back I really allowed myself to be 'bullied' it was a horrible feeling, and I was made to feel as though I was doing something wrong, when all I did in actual fact was help someone that was at the point of suicide!
  I can understand they have to do their checks, but the way some officers go about things leaves a lot to be desired. It must be a very difficult job, but unless the person they are dealing with is either rude, or not forthcoming with information, people (applicants) should be treated with at the very least politeness!
  If I decide to go ahead, I will let you know how I get on.