changing from hosuing benefit to LHA

newname_3

Hi I have a friend who is on benefits due to ill health. They rent privately and claim housing benefit. They've just found out their housing benefit has been reduced for this year (rent officer assessment) but the rent stays the same.

It would be much better for them to be on the new Local Housing Allowance but they don't want to move because of being ill and liking hwere they are already. Can they stop their claim, leave it a week and then reapply - will they then be a new claim and get LHA?

I can lend them money to cover rent in the mean time while it all gets sorted out.

fiodyl

I'm not sure if it is possible or not, have you spoken to the council about it? Are you sure they would get more from LHA? I thought all councils would be moving over to LHA for existing claims eventually anyway.

poppysarah

LHA should lower rents. But landlords are playing the system and screwing tax payers.

mummytofour

Op I think they can try this on the benefits bored as more will know over there.

newname_3

Thanks - I'll try over on the benefits board. In this person's case they would defintiely get more. I think part of the money saving from the new system is it is much more simple system although landlords can take advanatge of it.

silvercar

The problem will be the delay in sorting out the new claim, can you afford to bank roll your friend for a few weeks?

The other problem is that she may have to stop her council tax claim at the same time, she may lose the council tax benefit for a week and never get it back.

newname_3

Me and some other friends could lend her the money between us for a couple of months so we'd all be ok on that score.

How come you think she may not get her council tax benefit back?