I highly recommend you not remove what structure exists. Moving floor joists up requires major restructuring. You can install new joists over the existing to raise the sunken floor but I would not attempt to increase the ceiling height in the basement. Normally to do that you have to rip out the basement floor and dig it lower, but you cant go too deep or you undermine the footers.

Thank you for your response, the ceiling height in the basement would be to level out with rest of basement. No, I would not want to go lower. The sunken living room floor on inside has joist hangers already, this is on the main house middle beam. I do NOT have my floor open yet but here are pictures I found online that would be very similar to mine. the hangers on inside with wall dividing rooms right on the load bearing beam. The other picture would be the way on outside of wall with joist sitting on sill plate. My thought was that the living room floor that I need raised has no bearing on the rest of the structural walls. With in this living room I would be able to remove finish floor, sub floor to see all of floor joist.

Well, if your floor joists are not holding up the walls and just hanging by brackets then I guess moving them up may be do-able. Although you might need new longer joists to rest correctly on the wall base(s) and beam(s). I have my reservations still, going to have to see the structure before you make a decision that is for sure.

Thank you once again.

Just to recap-

the one end of joist on inside have the hanging brackets attached to load bearing beam, so moving this end should be the same procedure. The other end of joist is on a outside wall - which the floor joist setting on plate on basement cement wall, then the outside wall is sitting on the floor joist (as seen in second picture). Here is a picture that I was given on how it could be done.

Just wanting to verify if this is a satisfactory way of doing it. I do appreciate all ideas and comments.

I'm no expert and I think you should definitely get this signed off by a structural engineer.

But IMHO, the "old floor joist cut" pieces in the above diagram would be very weak with the grain of the wood running horizontal. At minimum, I'd probably add 2x4 pieces on either side to reinforce them and properly attach them so that the 2x4s are the structural support, not the cut joists.

But again, get this signed off by a structural engineer.

Really need to distribute the weight to the foundation wall directly from above. Perhaps cut a space in the wall plate to accept the floor joist, then cut a 4x4 to length the size needed to act as a squash block between the sill plate and floor joist. Then tie everything together. What is the situation with the other side of the joist in the middle of the house?

I agree with greg on the cut joists, ensure the wall studs distribute weight to the foundation wall correctly and for sure permit and sign offs are a good idea.

Thank you

The very top picture shows current inside of joist in the middle of the house already using hangers so moving joist up to correct height and using hangers again should be the same as is.

I agree that adding support such as 2 x 4 to cut off joist for additional support. The floor band joist shown above should tie everything together, (the upper wall, bottom wall plate, cutoff joist, new joist, new 2 x 4 added beside cutoff joist) All the weight of new joist will be setting directly on the newly added basement wall.

Does this all make sense?