housing benefit for 1 bedroom flat!

silentscream999

hi,

just need some help someone,

he is claiming housing benefit for a 1 bedroom shared accomadation and he gets £85 a week.

he has been given a notice and is looking for another place.

he has found a 1 bed room flat / self contained accomadtion for £150 a week.

now he has looked at his councils LHA;
http://www.newham.gov.uk/Services/HousingBenefit/AboutUs/LHARates.htm

so will they pay £161 or will they tell him to go find a 1 bedroom shared accomodation like right now ?

he would prefer a flat and wants to know whether he is eligible for £150 under the LHA. he is single and living on his own.

thanks in advance

bigbill

If they are over 25 they will get the maximum at £161 keeping any extra HB for themselves.

Assuming they are due full help?

silentscream999

hi there and thanks,
he is under 25! will that make any different ?? and yes, as he is on JSA he is eligible for full rent.

bigbill

Unless they are severely disabled?

They will only be allowed the 1 bedroom shared accommodation at the much lower weekly amount until they are 25.

sirmyser

It is worth remembering that the benefit in question is only going to apply to the current surrent situation that HE is in, not the one that he is going to be in. Otherwise, people on benefits would be able to 'pre-plan' their accomodation when in fact they are supposed only recieve help/benefits in times of dire need......

Lecture aside, I suggest the following:

If he has been given notice at his present address then somewhere to stay is his priority, not neccessarily what may or may not be paid, but more so about what 'type' of payment would be accepted by ant new potential landlord. A new landlord of a flat/house/room/whatever will more than likely request deposits/checks/inside leg measurements (I jest). on any new accomodation. Providing the landlord is happy and HIS situation, (including a potential deposit) and the HB deem the claim to be genuine then the local HB dept will have to pay at LHA (variable) rates.

'Foot in the door' is a term that springs to mind.

Hope this helps.

real1314

sirmyser wrote: »

It is worth remembering that the benefit in question is only going to apply to the current surrent situation that HE is in, not the one that he is going to be in. Otherwise, people on benefits would be able to 'pre-plan' their accomodation when in fact they are supposed only recieve help/benefits in times of dire need......

Lecture aside, I suggest the following:

If he has been given notice at his present address then somewhere to stay is his priority, not neccessarily what may or may not be paid, but more so about what 'type' of payment would be accepted by ant new potential landlord. A new landlord of a flat/house/room/whatever will more than likely request deposits/checks/inside leg measurements (I jest). on any new accomodation. Providing the landlord is happy and HIS situation, (including a potential deposit) and the HB deem the claim to be genuine then the local HB dept will have to pay at LHA (variable) rates.

'Foot in the door' is a term that springs to mind.

Hope this helps.

Erm, almost entirely incorrect.

1. LHA rates are not variable depending on the property.
2. LHA rates are intended to allow people to "pre-plan"

The whole point of LHA is to allow tenants freedom to choose a property with the full knowledge of exactly how much help they will receive.
So, if a family with 3 kids rent a 2 bed property or a 4 bed property, they receive the exact same amount under LHA rules. Even if they go for a 5 or 6 or seven bed property, they still get the same amount.
If their rent is higher than the amount they receive, it's up to them to make up the difference. If their rent is less than they receive, they keep the difference (well, actually this is capped to £15, but it's unlikely to hit that figure very often).

sirmyser

real1314 wrote: »

Erm, almost entirely incorrect.

1. LHA rates are not variable depending on the property.
2. LHA rates are intended to allow people to "pre-plan"

The whole point of LHA is to allow tenants freedom to choose a property with the full knowledge of exactly how much help they will receive.
So, if a family with 3 kids rent a 2 bed property or a 4 bed property, they receive the exact same amount under LHA rules. Even if they go for a 5 or 6 or seven bed property, they still get the same amount.
If their rent is higher than the amount they receive, it's up to them to make up the difference. If their rent is less than they receive, they keep the difference (well, actually this is capped to £15, but it's unlikely to hit that figure very often).

Hmm. Never said that rates were dependant on property... and that wasn't the point of my post. Also I am fully aware of the LHA rate paid in relation to the amount of people (of all ages) that are claiming it, after all it is quite a simple system. Maybe the the 'pre-plan' comment could of been better put.

The situation put forward by silent scream was indeed a hypothetical one. My point was that if a 1 bedroom self contained accomodation WAS procured (i.e. criterion, deposit, creditit check etc) then standard LHA would apply. Which incidentally, does vary from council to council (no mention of location was stated) also 'slightly (not much) varies within council districts in regard to location. (see your local online LHA calculator).

anyway, irrespective of this and providing the criteria is met I advise that silent scream's mate just move in. As you have said, they are entitled to LHA as it is only 1 bedroom. I apologise in advance if my previous comments were mis-understood.

peace.

bigbill

sirmyser wrote: »

Anyway, irrespective of this and providing the criteria is met I advise that silent scream's mate just move in.

If you read the original post?

Location is mentioned?

I would be interested to know where would you advise somone under 25 with £47.95 weekly Jobseekers to find the £60 shortfall in his weekly rent / HB award?

Given that LHA will only pay £87 weekly and the rent mention for a one bedroom (Which you are suggesting they move into) is £150 weekly.