Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit entitlement

NikNox

Hi all,

I'm postig on behalf of my 21 year old son to see if he is entitled to claim for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. None of us have ever been on benefits, and he is extremely proud (gets it from me I'm afraid). Anyway, he recently did an intensive IT training Course, nationally renouned, whilst employed in the Building Trade. He took 3 weeks leave to do the Course. Once completed (and he passed the Course with distinction), he returned to work as a labourer. However, the company he did the IT training with also look for IT jobs for him, and he was being offered short term contract work for them which he initially turned down because of being in employment elsewhere. He finally made the decision to leave his labouring job so he was free to take on IT work, building up his experience in the IT world. He lives away from home in a rented house with a friend. Since leaving his full time job, he's had sporadic work in IT. An odd couple of days here and there, clearly not enough to make an impact on his income. He is probably, at the moment, earning about £80 per week. He is a prime candidate for a big, 6 month contract which is due to start at the end of November. So, he's now worried, very much, about his rent and council tax at the end of this month, and I'm wondering if he can get any help with his rent and Council tax. I don't believe he would be entitled to JSA as he's earning around £80 per week, but could he claim help with his rent?

Thanks very much for any info.

Oldernotwiser

He can claim for help with his rent while he is on a low income, although it may not cover all of it.

CIS

Is he on a joint tenancy or just lodging ?

NikNox

Hi, thanks for the replies. Firstly we know he won't cover all of it, it's just if he's entitled to a bit of help then that would indeed be a help. He's very proud and has stated that he doesn't wish to claim benefits, but I pointed out that if he is entitled he should claim. I know where he's coming from though, bless him.

Secondly, he shares the rent with a friend, so it's a joint tenancy. They both pay £275 per month rent, and £65 per month council tax each.

Kimitatsu

He can check on www.entitledto.co.uk and that will give him an idea of just what he is entitled to claim.

Tell him that benefits are there to help when you need it and if he gets himself set up in IT with a good job then he will soon pay it all back plus lots more!

If you enter your postcode it will also check LHA rates for you

CIS

He can probably claim CTB towards 50% of the overall charge but remember that he is liable for payment of 100% of the charge if the other occ does not pay.

Loopy_Girl

And even if he is entitled to help, it won't be sorted out for the end of this month....could take weeks I'm afraid

NeverInDebt

You could try this service

https://www.dwpe-services.direct.gov.uk/portal/page/portal/ba/lp

NikNox

Thanks everyone, very helpful. I have been to the LHA website and discovered that the benefit for a 2 bedroomed house in his area is £126 pw, but of course he would be entitled to less than that as he shares. However, any amount will help, and I assume will be backdated from the date of his claim.

Certainly worth a try, and as soon as he starts on the contract coming up in November, he can stop claiming. It's only a very short term thing, but every little helps as they say!! Now I've just got to convince him that it is okay to claim help when you're entitled to it!! That's the hard part

Oldernotwiser

NikNox wrote: »

Thanks everyone, very helpful. I have been to the LHA website and discovered that the benefit for a 2 bedroomed house in his area is £126 pw, but of course he would be entitled to less than that as he shares. However, any amount will help, and I assume will be backdated from the date of his claim.

You need to look at the shared accommodation rate for him, not a proportion of the 2 bed rate.

NikNox

Hi, I just went to the DirectGov benefit entitlement checker thingy, and it appears he may be entitled to claim £69.75 pw rent and £9.75 pw Council tax benefit, so worth claiming for!!