Housing benefits without claiming JSA??

System

Sharon87 wrote: »

You may have to file a new claim for HB if the job centre registered you for HB. I may be wrong, but it could happen.

THIS

A friend had their HB claim closed as they stopped receiving JSA (as it was awarded in that case on basis of JSA) and in order to continue had to make a new claim (not based on JSA, just their low income)

sp1987

vaspar wrote: »

I have been planning on opening a bank account for some time, but I just haven't got around to it - out of laziness more than anything. I would have no problem getting a bank account in my name, and I plan to do that soon. Would it help my cause if I opened one now?

Sadly, I have no savings at all. I've been living on JSA for the best part of 3 years. I'm sure if I was short of food some weeks I could eat at my mums. She has said that she will help me where she can, but she doesn't have an awful lot of money herself so I would try not to burden her too often... but if I was struggling food wise, she'd help me out.

It's not ideal I know, but its better than a life on benefits! I can live this way for a short while if at the end of it I will be a more attractive employment prospect, with a good career ahead of me.

Mark

I've no idea of the benefit implications of it, was just being nosey really. Surely if you say you do not have a bank account and you say you live on a tiny amount with no savings they are going to be a bit suspect, even if it is all legitimate, just because it seems *too* low. So I guess maybe having a near empty bank account would at least let them see things that are going in/coming out? They could at least check it then and see that you are not hiding it.

I just worry they will look at you and think ''oh this guy must be hiding money somewhere'' because there is no way I/most people could live on £20/week.

I was going to ask if you qualified for the adults learning grant for your access course but guessing not if it is part time? Do they have any sort of hardship fund at your college so you could apply for some funding??

Having completed a law degree myself funding is the last thing you want to be worrying about so hopefully you can be sorted by the time you get there with nothing hanging over you.

giraffejoe

I work in Housing Benefits and in my LA we do allow HB to be paid into someone else's account. We need the account details of the person who's account HB is to be paid into (obviously), need to know their relationship to you, and need a signed statement from them confirming they are willing to accept payments of HB into their account on your behalf and that they accept that they will be liable to pay back any overpayment of HB.

fluffymovie

Hi

Many thanks for clearing up the issues I mentioned. I also work in HB and we also pay money into someone else account. It might help if you ask your LA to show you where in the regs for LHA it says that money has to be paid into an account in your name as this is not stated specifically in the regs. I do know that some of our local LA's don't allow it but Giraffejoe and I both work for LA's that do so it is possible. My LA however don't allow cheque cashing so anyone who gets a cheque has to have it opened at cashconverters or somewhere thefore incurring a 9% charge, hence my question.

However, for the sake of visiting the council every 2 weeks and getting the cash chequed, it would seem sensible to open a bank account which would probably take a lot less time and would assist the LA to pay you the LHA you need in order to make furthering your education possible.

Wish you the best in whatever you decide