help! redundancy/JSA/housing benefit

custardpoint

hi all, i'm a new member, and will try to keep this short!!

I'm a 24 year old welsh girl (25 on 29th december 2009 - 4 weeks to go!) and I was made redundant from my £20k a year job on 30th Nov 2009, after 2.5 years. I currently live in s.wales and now want to move in with my boyfriend (who currently lives with his parents in stourbridge, west midlands, so we will look for somewhere to rent together)

I am currently training for my LGV licenses under the ReAct funding scheme. I want to move to the west midlands to live with my boyfriend, but cannot afford to do so until I have found employment.

I have applied for housing benefit from shropshire council in my own name, with the aim of renting a private flat on my own until I find a job; and then he can move in, and we will each pay half rent, half bills (I dont wanna be done for benefit fraud, its the last thing I need) He has a full time job and earns about £16k a year.

Does anyone know how much I am likely to receive in housing benefit? Bearing in mind I am 25 at the end of this month. I don't have a penny to my name at the moment!

Is there anything else I need to know or consider? I'm completely stepping into the unknown at the moment :eek:

Oldernotwiser

custardpoint wrote: »

hi all, i'm a new member, and will try to keep this short!!

I'm a 24 year old welsh girl (25 on 29th december 2009 - 4 weeks to go!) and I was made redundant from my £20k a year job on 30th Nov 2009, after 2.5 years. I currently live in s.wales and now want to move in with my boyfriend (who currently lives with his parents in stourbridge, west midlands, so we will look for somewhere to rent together)

I am currently training for my LGV licenses under the ReAct funding scheme. I want to move to the west midlands to live with my boyfriend, but cannot afford to do so until I have found employment.

I have applied for housing benefit from shropshire council in my own name, with the aim of renting a private flat on my own until I find a job; and then he can move in, and we will each pay half rent, half bills (I dont wanna be done for benefit fraud, its the last thing I need) He has a full time job and earns about £16k a year.

Does anyone know how much I am likely to receive in housing benefit? Bearing in mind I am 25 at the end of this month. I don't have a penny to my name at the moment!

Is there anything else I need to know or consider? I'm completely stepping into the unknown at the moment :eek:

Rates for 1 bedroom accommodation in Shropshire are just over £92, which you can check on here https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/Secure/Default.

Anthillmob

you can apply but wont get until you physically move in

custardpoint

Thank you for your quick replies! I've been doing some further reading in this forum and it seems like I can also only apply for a one bedroom place, however Ive already filled out the form for a two bed place I've been looking at. never mind!

dmg24

You should be aware that if you are living as a couple, your partners income will be taken into account when applying for benefits.

Caz3121

custardpoint wrote: »

Thank you for your quick replies! I've been doing some further reading in this forum and it seems like I can also only apply for a one bedroom place, however Ive already filled out the form for a two bed place I've been looking at. never mind!

There is nothing to stop you going for a 2 bedroom place but the LHA will be based on a one-bedroom rate. If you can get a larger property at the 1-bed rate or are able to pay the difference it is fine