Housing Benefit reduced by £21.93 per WEEK!

catastrophe10

:mad:Just recieved a letter. The rent officer has reviewed my housing benefit and reduced it from £54.81 per week to £33.88 per week! How is this possible. I am writing to appeal but this just doesn't make sense. I have severe mental health problems and now I can't afford to rent. I don't know what to do?

How can they do this?

AnxiousMum

What basis do they give for the reduction? Is it your income? Change in dependents? Change of LHA rate? They must've based it on something, or did they make an error in the first place?

catastrophe10

They say its because house prices have gone down. And with the current climate more people are renting so the prices of rent has gone down to be competitive. I ask you?

The rent Officer has based his desicion on this???

Ive been getting the £54.81 rate for two years now, having to make up the diff from my other benefits, now its £38.88, I can't afford to find another £80.00, its just not there - where can anyone rent for £38.88 per week
Whoever heared of rent going down, especially when there was more competition????

I just don't get it, Im in bits

karenx

Yes LHA can change depending on the market rate, so it can go down as well as up.
All it means is that in your area the average rent for the number of bedroomed property you have has went down so therefore your LHA has been reduced. They dont take it based on your actual rent, it goes on the LHA so whether your house is £700 a month rent or £400 a month rent the LHA will still be the same for the number of bedrooms

CIS

If its the LHA rate then it is determined on a monthly rate and your HB will be re-assessed , generally speaking, at the rate on 12 month anniversary of your claim date. They figure they use is roughtly speaking midway between the highest and lowest rents for the assessed broad market rental area.

You can check your LHA rate here - https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/Secure/LHASearchIntro.aspx

catastrophe10

Well, had a look at that LHA calculator and I can't work it out? My rent is £350 per month shared with a joint tennant so we both pay £350, they are giving me £155 per month so now I have to find £200 per month from my other benefits?

AnxiousMum

Is the joint tenant your partner, and they may have taken their income into account for household income?

catastrophe10

No, and they know this - he is my carer.
This was all sorted years ago, I had an officer visit and they upped my allowance as I was severely mentally impaired. My CPN will be writing to them tomorrow - by that LHA thingy the rate is £157.00 per week? I know its affected by what other bens I get, but this is just daft?

Thanks for listening, if my tone appears curt its not with anyone here, im just mighty vexed is all

Indie_Kid

Do you have any extra money (not DLA) coming in?

catastrophe10

I get Incap and DLA - Low mob - high rate care
So the All the INCAP will have to pay my rent shortfall now

Wee_Willy_Harris

I'm not aware of any reductions in LHA rates as steep as the one mentioned. If you go into your local authority website, they publish the historic rates there so a comparison should be easy. Once set, at the start of the claim, the amount remains the same until/unless there is a change in circumstances. This could include a new tenancy agreement (unlikely), a change in the rent, a change in income, a change in family circumstances.