Am I entitled to housing benefit

McKneff wrote: »

I think you are living in a bit of a dream world to be honest.


Stay at home till you get yourself sorted out and a business established. And then see if you can actually afford to move out and be responsible for yourself.


Do yu really think you could afford to be on your own,
Housing benefit would not cover all the rent, then there is gas, electric, water, food, clothes, insurance.....
etc. etc. etc.....

I have to agree but don't want to sound harsh as I know how hard it can be but Yes I agree with the above poster.

When my partner went from Contribution based ESA to income based we were informed by letter a good few months before. We then had to fill in a form and yes go to an assessment but did get put over to income based.
I know the horror stories of Atos (now Capita is it??) But unless you are ready to go onto JSA and into full working mode then you won't have a hope. I doubt you realise how hard it is with bills and rent without much income.

I am an ebay seller. Private and only selling my own clothes etc but I can tell you now, it's not easy. If you are interested in selling as a business that's great, but you will need to buy stock, follow ebay rules for selling very strictly and it's a very unstable income.
Ebay is saturated with large business and items like you describe. It's pretty hard for small people out there.
I wouldn't put much weight on the Ebay thing for a while. (EDIT but don't give up on it, just don't rely on it)

As you are 28 you will only qualify for a shared house. The local Housing Allowance for your need rarely pays all the rent the landlord asks for. You will need to make up the difference from other money AND a landlord or group of flat sharers, won't rent to you if you can't show how you can support yourself.

Even if you were to get HB how would you pay for your other expenses. Savings won't last long.

Well done for wanting to come off benefits and start being independent but it's a lot harder than you think.

GenghisKhan86 wrote: »

I appreciate the advice guys but I don't really have a choice. I haven't worked in over 7 years now so if I don't get my life sorted out now I never will.

What about hostels or some kind of supported accommodation? I don't fancy doing a house share but I would be willing to rent a room in a hostel as long as I have access to my own bathroom. With regards to money I have several thousand pounds in savings so that should be enough to cover costs while I get back on my feet...

Thanks again

Savings won't last long if you have to furnish your own property.

GenghisKhan86 wrote: »

What about hostels or some kind of supported accommodation? I don't fancy doing a house share but I would be willing to rent a room in a hostel as long as I have access to my own bathroom.

Your rate of Local Housing Allowance will only cover you for the bottom third cheapest shared properties as that's how the rate is calculated (and many people dispute that it's even that generous, that rents are usually far higher than LHA for all properties in their area on the market).

Hostels tend to be for the homeless that the local council will offer to those in priority need (i.e. homeless with dependents or disabilities) as interim accommodation until their homelessness application is fully assessed or as temporary accommodation until they find them more settled accommodation.

There are hostels for the single homeless (who tend to have fewer rights for assistance and accommodation under housing law in England) but I get the impression that they are very low quality accommodation, so an ensuite might be a bit ambitious.

Many hostels do not accept direct referrals but accept applicants made by certain agencies.

http://www.homelessuk.org/details.asp?id=LP386

The Shelter website does have information on how a local council will process a homeless application and the types of interim accommodation they may offer (if, for example, your parents evict you).

What do you mean by 'supported' accommodation? That tends to be for those leaving care, with special needs, refuges for victims of domestic abuse, and so forth. Info here.

http://www.homelessuk.org/details.asp?id=LP378

GenghisKhan86 wrote: »

With regards to money I have several thousand pounds in savings so that should be enough to cover costs while I get back on my feet...

Realistically, what landlord will offer a tenancy to an applicant who lacks a regular income? It's hard enough for those on benefits to secure a tenancy even if Housing Benefit will fully cover their rent and also quite hard for the newly self employed (who lack accounts to prove income). You have some capital but employment income is the easiest way to get a tenancy. Is there any chance you could secure conventional employment to help you gain a tenancy?

GenghisKhan86 wrote: »

I appreciate the advice guys but I don't really have a choice. I haven't worked in over 7 years now so if I don't get my life sorted out now I never will.

What about hostels or some kind of supported accommodation? I don't fancy doing a house share but I would be willing to rent a room in a hostel as long as I have access to my own bathroom. With regards to money I have several thousand pounds in savings so that should be enough to cover costs while I get back on my feet...

Thanks again

If you take that attitude you may as well crawl under a rock now. I am 32 and my partner is 33. My partner hasn't worked for 8 years. Only a year longer than you. Does my partner give up? No.

We keep going and keep moving forward.
You are still young and have been lucky to have parent to live with.
Myself and partner don't and neither do many others.

Life is what you make it. I understand the urge to move on and sort your life out, no one is saying you shouldn't. Only that you understand the reality.

if I was single I'd be renting in a flat share. I hate sharing. I'd rather live in a crappy bedsit. Unfortunately in London even bedsits are expensive.
Flat shares don't have to be grungy. Most Londoners flat share. I happen to share with my partner.
However even we must pay gas/water/elec/C tax/phone/internet/clothing/transport/food and Rent. That is not covered by HB because rents are way above what the council pay.
I don't know where you are but reality is reality for a reason.
You may not like it but you make good on what you do have a choice over in your life.
Why not go onto JSA while at home? This way you can see just how stressful the job centre is. I'd rather sell my body frankly.
If you think applying for ESA is stressful wait until you claim JSA.

I'm not trying to be harsh. If it's mental health problems you have I DO understand. Very very much so.

Stick to reality and by chance IF a miracle happens so be it! :A

EDIT: Just another point on age and getting your life sorted. My aunt has had a good job for years and managed to buy her own house however it was at a great cost and was single and lonely for 10+ years.
She turns 50 this year.
She now has a boyfriend, gave up drinking, gave up smoking, went into therapy, got a cat and has managed to pay a lot of debt off. she has just landed a lovely job after freelancing/temping for some time all in the last 2 years. She is the happiest I have ever seen and living her life to the max! The last 10 years has been hell for our family with many young bereavements.

No matter what you do, SOME things are simply NOT in your control.
learn to accept that and make a realistic plan.

Your life can be "sorted" at any age. But it won't if you don't understand how benefits and the real world work.
Not trying to sound patronising, just wish I had listened years ago.