DSS in place?

spora

Hello,

just a quick question. Im currently on incapacity benefit and living at home but looking to move out. I found somewhere i like and asked if she would accept someone on DSS. She said that as long as my DSS is in place then she would. Could anyone clear this up for me? What does it mean to have DSS in place? Ive not heard this before.

Thanks.

Voyager2002

I think she means someone who is already having their claim paid, rather than someone who is about to make a new claim. What she cares about, of course, is that you will pay your rent regularly right from the day you move in. She wants to avoid the situation where the tenant has to wait while the claim is being considered and so does not pay any rent until a decision has been made.

cabbage

She might also be concerned regarding Housing Benefit but you can only claim this once you have found somewhere to live and are liable to pay the rent. The new version of this is called Local Housing Allowance (LHA) and its paid to the tenant rather than the landlord which is different for old claims where the money is paid to the landlord direct.

Find out from the LHA website how much your LHA is likely to be so that you know how much you will get and if there is a shortfall. Depending on your age you will be either entitled to one bedroom shared accommodation or a one bed self contained flat or house (assuming you are single and don't have kids). The website has a bedroom calculator and will also tell you of the rate of LHA for your area. It changes monthly. Use it as a guide as its the max you will be paid. Other factors such as savings, having non dependants living with you etc will reduce the amount of LHA you will get

https://lha-direct.therentservice.gov.uk/Secure/Default.aspx