Is this normal for a housing benefit claim? - desperate should i just move out?

amberowl28

Hi,

Wondering if anyone can help. First and hopefully only time claimant. After having to leave my job (family illness, really had no choice) i applied for JSA and housing benefit. JSA took ages but finally decided i had enough NI to claim - first payment of £61 came through this week (only get it from beginning of June) though i feel this is wrong.

Housing benefits has been even worse - first i was told (when i initially went into hand over form and evidence) that i wouldn't be eligable as didn't have current tenancy agreement. Didn't hear from them for a month and when i went to speak to them i was told not to worry as claims taking ages to process at the moment. Eventually got a letter the other week - addressed to previous tenant who hasn't lived here for 3 years. Only reason i know this is because i still get debt collection letters delivered for them, even though i send them back saying he doesn't live here. Went straight round to clear this up to be told comps were down to fill in info and evidence again and i'd hear back this week.

This week i recieved a letter asking me too come in for an interview on Monday (22nd) and to bring following evidence and that my claim wouldn't be backdated and would only be from 5th June (date gave all info again).

- Proof of Capital - they already have the last 4 months bank statements.

- Proof of Rent - they have old tenancy agreement (went onto month to month in Jan).

- Proof of ability to afford rent at commencement of tenancy (assuming bank statements from the time? Jan 2007) Surely the fact that i've been a tenant for 2 and a half years and up till now always paid on time proves this too?

My landlady has been really understanding but obviously wants to get paid - surely they can't keep asking for information i've already provided.

Currently i owe £350 which was due on 20th of May (for June) and another £350 due today (for July).

Should i just give up and hand in my notice to landlady today and move out July 20th? Otherwise i will be liable for August's rent as well. Deposit will cover Junes rent and maybe HB (when i finally get it cover July). As far as i know only eligable for approx £57 a week as under 25 (rent is over £80) so don't see it as being sustainable.

Have had no money in bank for about a month now and been living off a crisis loan and friends. Moving out will mean kipping on sofa of parents/friends. Any advice appreciated, sorry it's so long.

catenorfolk

personally, pain in the backside that it is, i would just give them all the information they require again and again until you get further with them. What is the point in giving up. I understand it is frustrating and hard, but dont give up, and if you are not getting very far with the advisor you first deal with ask for someone else.

amberowl28

Yeah i know i'm gonna have to keep plugging on at it and hopefully get somewhere eventually. I understand there incrediably busy at the moment and so can't expect miracles. They don't have to deal with landlady (who to be fair has been really understanding up till now) and the worry and stress of being behind with rent and having to sell computer, tv and washing machine etc to pay it a month late and still be behind. Someone with a less understanding ll would be facing eviction/court proceedings by now. She has now even given me a letter to hand in at meeting.

- April's rent 2 weeks late
- May's rent month late
- June's rent unpaid
- July's rent now due

real1314

amberowl28 wrote: »

Yeah i know i'm gonna have to keep plugging on at it and hopefully get somewhere eventually. I understand there incrediably busy at the moment and so can't expect miracles. They don't have to deal with landlady (who to be fair has been really understanding up till now) and the worry and stress of being behind with rent and having to sell computer, tv and washing machine etc to pay it a month late and still be behind. Someone with a less understanding ll would be facing eviction/court proceedings by now. She has now even given me a letter to hand in at meeting.

- April's rent 2 weeks late
- May's rent month late
- June's rent unpaid
- July's rent now due

It's a pita, but they are asking for stuff to sort out your award.
That bit out proving you could pay the rent is so they can award your full rent for the first 13 weeks without any limitations under the LHA system - this can easily be missed so they are actually a bit more on the ball. After 13 weeks they will only be able to pay the LHA limit.

Ask them if they can pay at an interim rate - they can consider. They should really have sorted it out by now but it all depends on the council, the staffing level and how good they are - some are very good, some are not so good.

amberowl28

I didn't know that thank you! Hopefully that should help alot. Really hope this gets sorted this week as dunno what to do if not, crossed fingers if i hand over all evidence again it'll be straightforward.

I'm gonna take with me:

- Bank statements from November 2006 to March 2007 to prove i could afford rent when first moved in.

- Last 4 months bank statements as proof of capital

- Old tenancy agreement - as proof of rent

- Letter from landlady

Will these be accepted? Also gonna take everything i can thing of in seperate folder just in case.

amberowl28

Lucks like i'm gonna have to move out. If this gets sorted this week and i get first payment on Monday 29th, according to my calculations this won't be anywhere near enough to cover arrears with current claim start date, 5th June. In fact would take me until end of July to pay off what currently owe then would be behind with August.

Suppose i can appeal the decision not to backdate (cause they screwed up) but i've a feeling this would take forever.

zzzLazyDaisy

I know this doesn't help you now, but for future reference........

ALWAYS keep a full photocopy of anything you give to LHA people; and

ALWAYS get a written receipt for anything you hand in

If you really must post stuff always send it by special delivery and check that it has been recived and signed for.

They lost my cousin''s papers THREE times. Each time they insisted that they had never received them, until she produced the signed receipts. Maybe some LA's are better than others, but I wouldn't take the chance.

amberowl28

They never gave me reciepts - in fact most of the stuff she just looked at wrote down a few details then handed back rather than photocopying and keeping it.

amberowl28

I feel that by moving out can stop/cut down on all bills. Will be able to pay ll off in the next month especially if she keeps deposit. Downside is will make it virtually impossible to find a job or get a stable place to live for a long time. This is what's really worrying me.

SomeBozo

Based on your previous threads, the biggest problem you have is that your rent is £80 a week and you get HB of £50.95 a week.

Given that you are only getting JSA as a income, plus you have "normal bills" and debt to pay, your living way above your means.

Even if you remove your debt, your out-goings still exceed your income whilst not in employment.

I don't think relying on the state for "crisis" loans and paying your rent is a option.

You need to move to a cheaper place that accepts £50 a week rent, or move to family/freinds. Living rent free for a while might acrtually help you to address your debt.

Did you ever cancel your internet or phone contracts? Do you need to be told that this is low priority on your list?

I think you know the steps and the order you need to do them in, the first is to move out and then cut non-essential outgoings, which is internet and/or phone.

Bozo

amberowl28

Yes i've cancelled everything and been looking for a cheaper place for 2 months now - nothing. I agree i'll have to move out and get parents to put me up.