Housing Benefit Mistake & Underpayment

Ross2452

Hi guys,

I have been claiming HB for about 10 months.

Due to a change of circumstances I was re-issued my HB descision/breakdown.

After taking a close look at it I have realised that I have been underpaid £38.5 per month. This has been going on since I first put my claim in (they have my rent as £225 instead of £265.5).

I called the office today and had them check this. The lady had a look at my file and at my lease which I submitted when I first claimed. She confirmed I have been under paid and asked me to put all this in writing.

I know the HB office only usually back date up to 6 months, but as this is their mistake would this still be the case?

Im really struggeling at the moment and the £380ish would be a mega help! Should I be getting my hopes up?

Cheers, Ross.



P.s. Off topic - Just got off the phone to the JSA deliverly centre to see whats taking so long for my first JSA payment. Turns out they have lost my claim....three weeks with out cash! AAH! ....at least Ive lost about a stone in weight :P

Don't you just love the benefits system! lol.

Robbie64

You shouldn't have to put it in writing if they already have the information! All documents you submit are scanned to their computer system.

Is it a case of they have used the wrong rent figure or is it rather they are paying you the maximum allowed for HB / LHA?

Ross2452

They were using the wrong figure, they confirmed this as they have my lease that shows the correct rent.

Im submitting a change of circumstances atm, so she said to just mentionin the same letter about the under payment.

dmg24

Are you claiming LHA (is it a private rental)? If so, have you checked what the eligible LHA amount would be?

fluffymovie

If the la have made an error in the assessment, there is no obligation on you to put anything in writing.

However, if they aren't sure it is their mistake, they can ask you to write in. Speaking as a benefits supervisor, this is the sort of thing that I would have fixed over the phone myself but perhaps ring up, ask to speak to a manager and get it corrected today

Caz3121

agree with above - you need to confirm whether this is private let or housing association/council...if the first you will need to find the shared room LHA for your area...it is very possible that the £225 relates to your LHA rate and as such is taken as the rental figure

Ross2452

Thanks for the replys!

Im a private tennant.


On the award it says:
Gross Rent: £225 (should it not be £262.50?)
Weekly Eligible Rent: £66.92
LHA: £69.23pw

hurricanewyn

You won't get the full amount back - if anything you'll get the difference between what you've received and the LHA rate. So it looks like, from the figures you've given, that the maximum you'll get will be 2.31 per week.
Unless, you were paying the full rent yourself when you moved in and hadn't claimed Housing Benefit for over a year?? In that case, you'd be entitled to full rent for the first 13 weeks.

Ross2452

hurricanewyn wrote: »

You won't get the full amount back - if anything you'll get the difference between what you've received and the LHA rate. So it looks like, from the figures you've given, that the maximum you'll get will be 2.31 per week.

I see you got that numberby subtracting the LHA fromthe eligible rent.

What is 'eligible rent' and 'gross rent'? im confused lol. :wall:

Robbie64

Ross2452 wrote: »

I see you got that numberby subtracting the LHA fromthe eligible rent.

What is 'eligible rent' and 'gross rent'? im confused lol. :wall:

Gross rent is the contractual rent (i.e. the amount you have to pay). Eligible rent is the amount after taking off non HB amounts such as water rates and sewerage charges if these can be identified.