Housing Benefit - Please help!

vintage_beanpole

Hi,

I'd really appreciate some help on the following.

I'm currently staying with friends and need to find a place. But I'm on a very low income (I am self-employed) - so it is affected and I've looked at how that would be calculated, which is fine.

But what I want to know is - if and when I find a room - I'll put down a deposit (which I can about scrape together) and have to pay the first month's rent.
I understand that benefit will take a little time to come through - does that mean that if it takes them 2 months to process I will only receive a payment for the 3rd month - or is it dated from when I make the claim?

Can I claim for the first month's rent??!
If the payment of the deposit and the 1st rent is simultaneous to the signing of the contract (which I need to claim) - does that mean that it's not in date for the claim?

On the other hand - I understand the rent is paid in arrears.

I will have to borrow money to pay the first rent, which is why I'm worried.

Thanks,
xxx

Jowo_2

It's the norm to pay one months rent and the deposit (usually the equivalent of 1 month to 6 weeks rent) in advance before you move in and then pay the rent in advance for the month ahead.

Check the local council website - they may have a deposit guarantee scheme for those on low income or housing need.

You can apply for an interim Housing benefit payment, also known as payment on account, if the HB people have failed to process your claim in 2 weeks but you submitted sufficient information for them to do this. This is something you have to ask for, its not done automatically.

Have a look at your local council website which should explain the process - you'll need a tenancy agreement to accompany your claim for LHA.

vintage_beanpole

Thanks,
I'm not too worried about the deposit - I think it's understandable that I should pay that. But what I really want to know is - whether I can claim the first month's rent back after I've paid it. That's the crux of it.

x

fawd1

In simple terms, yes. If your council decide that you are entitled to claim housing benefit then they will backdate it to when you first moved in as long as you can put in all of the relevant forms bank statements, tenancy agreement etc. Takes a while, but I recently got some housing benefit through backdated from the end of November, which is when I moed into my new home. I hope that helps.

fluffymovie

Hi there

It really depends on when you make the claim.
HB usually starts from the Monday following the date that the form is received. However, if you request a claim form and it is stamped by the LA, you then have a calendar month to get the information they need in.

I always advise people to make their claim before they move in if they can. If not, you may lose some benefit you would otherwise be entitled to.

However, if you put your claim in at the right time, even if it took 2 months to pay, you will be entitled from the date that you made your claim.

karenx

Remember that housing benefit is based on your earnings also, so if your business starts going well then your housing benefit will be reduced so make sure you can always afford to pay the full amount. Just in case!