Crisis loan

Wee_Willy_Harris

DHP (Discretionary Housing Payment) is a fund held by the local council and usually administered by the people who deal with HB/DLA. It's usually a short term payment to pay a rent shortfall rather than arrears, but with no rent to worry about, you can at least address the arrears. You can get a form from the council. Just concentrate on the shortfall when filling it in as it's not for paying arrears.

Speaking of arrears, I'm surprised they are that high. Your £90 LHA award equates to £390 a month, just £50 short of full rent. Assumint the this is ALL you have paid since your partner was laid off, your arrears should be about £600. Even less if you've topped that up.

Wee_Willy_Harris

Jowo wrote: »

But not if they deem the applicant to have made themselves intentionally homeless by not paying rent when the council consider that they could have. But as you've pointed out, the Shelter website has good information and in particular on how a local council will treat a homelessness application (homelessness being defined as no security of tenure past the next 28 days), should your landlord serve notice on you.

Unfortunately, some councils simply bat away a homeless applicant by telling them to ignore the notice served by the landlord and will only intervene when the landlord has then taken them to court to enforce the notice.

I can't see any obvious priority for a homeless accept.

vickyw

richard9991 wrote: »

Forget any type of loan from dwp the op only get £9 pw jsa they will say that they dont get enough to pay it back.

Not entirely sure this is true. Partners mum receives no JSA but does get a small amount of HB and recently got a budget loan of £800 to move house. Budget loan can be paid back out of any benefits and crisis loan is open to anyone, benefits or no.

vickyw

Wee_Willy_Harris wrote: »

Speaking of arrears, I'm surprised they are that high. Your £90 LHA award equates to £390 a month, just £50 short of full rent. Assumint the this is ALL you have paid since your partner was laid off, your arrears should be about £600. Even less if you've topped that up.

It comes to just under £400 per month. That means we are £50 short for rent. If we wish to pay bills every month and eat this requires another £300 minimum so you can see how we're in a bit of a hole.

Wee_Willy_Harris

vickyw wrote: »

Not entirely sure this is true. Partners mum receives no JSA but does get a small amount of HB and recently got a budget loan of £800 to move house. Budget loan can be paid back out of any benefits and crisis loan is open to anyone, benefits or no.

You won't get a crisis loan or a budgeting loan for rent arrears.

Jowo_2

Wee_Willy_Harris wrote: »

I can't see any obvious priority for a homeless accept.

The main obstruction to accepting a homelessness application is when the applicants did not pay rent when they could have, rather than a blanket ban on all rent arrears.

But I get the impression that most councils are overwhelmed by requests for support and therefore operate that classic gatekeeping tactic of telling the tenants to ignore the landlord's notice and come back when there is a court date scheduled for possession.

Wee_Willy_Harris

vickyw wrote: »

It comes to just under £400 per month. That means we are £50 short for rent. If we wish to pay bills every month and eat this requires another £300 minimum so you can see how we're in a bit of a hole.

Apply for DHP. This is a short term solution to give you enough time to find somewhere you can afford.

Wee_Willy_Harris

Jowo wrote: »

The main obstruction to accepting a homelessness application is when the applicants did not pay rent when they could have, rather than a blanket ban on all rent arrears.

But I get the impression that most councils are overwhelmed by requests for support and therefore operate that classic gatekeeping tactic of telling the tenants to ignore the landlord's notice and come back when there is a court date scheduled for possession.

There are quaifiers for homelessness. They are, in order....

1. Are you homeless?
2. Are you eligable for assistance?
3. Are you or a member of your household in a priorty group?
4 Have you made yourself homeless through your own acts or ommissions?

Intentionallity won't even be considered without a priority.

welshmoneylover

I know you're a student but can't you find work yourself to help keep a roof over your head?

vickyw

welshmoneylover wrote: »

I know you're a student but can't you find work yourself to help keep a roof over your head?

Yeah I'm looking too supermarkets/bar work/admin anything really we're not fussy! I'm looking into Avon at the mo. I don't expect it will pay a huge amount but even a little bit will make things ever so slightly easier.