need quick response esa effecting hb ctb

dazzadub

i have just been awarded esa contribution based and get £65 a week

i get help with rent and council tax

figures

smp = £499 pm
esa = 260 pm
ctc& wtc = 579 pm
cb = 80 pm


i was told by coincil yesterday that esa isnt counted as a income and normally it will give me more benefit entitlement for rent and council tax
is this true?

my rent is £356 pm
council tax is 104.45 pm


does anyone know anything about benefits effecting housing benefit etc

currently we pay ( with out esa )towards rent and council tax

£124 pm Rent
£50 pm council tax


any help would be grateful as ive got to call council to inform them of change and didnt want to get in arrears with rent or council tax

fluffymovie

ESA is counted as income if it's contribution based.

dazzadub

but what im trying to gauge is weather i get more help with rent and council tax as they say those who claim dla and esa and entitled to a bigger redutction in rent

Indie_Kid

if you claim dla, you get disability premiums - meaning you generally end up paying less rent and /or council tax.

fluffymovie

If the claimant is the one who gets the ESA, the disability premium isn't payable.

If your other circumstances have not changed, your benefit will reduce as your income has increased. I am very disappointed that you have been misadvised by your LA as ESA has been in for 2 years now.

There's some good advice on cpag's website if you are able to find it. I had to check as don't have my notes at home with me!

You didn't mention DLA in your original post but if you are on this, it may make a difference if you and your partner swap over as claimant and partner on your hb claim. It's ludicrus but something I do have to advise my customers

dazzadub

we made a joint claim on housing benefit, theres none referred to as partner.

but the council did inform me that due to the esa being added to my housing benefit claim i would get a higher rate of benefit

fluffymovie

Ok but I would advise you to speak to them again ac I am a team leader in benefits and I am certain they have misadvised you.

Whilst it is a joint claim, there will be a claimant and a partner as stated on your application form. Usually the person who gets the notification letters being the claimant

dazzadub

update

council has been in touch today and informed me of my new benefit arrangements,

i have to pay full rent of £88.76 per week plus £13.34 service charge

also full council tax of £158.09 per month we are in bad c, and they have back dated the claim from when my esa went in.

so they over payed in rent and council tax so still owe nearlly 700 on council tax for this tax year and over payed on rent.

so for me getting £65 esa assesment rate i will have to pay full rent and full council tax plus overpayments. works out over £500 a month i have to pay plus other bills.

so basically im worse off by 132 a month.

so my extra money i have coming in doesnt even come close to covering it.

so basically ive had to stop my esa claim as i cant afford to claim in

fluffymovie

Ok that doesn't seem right.

Could you please post the following details?

On your letters, what Is your applicable amount?
Are you single or part of a couple?
Does your tax credit include an amount for working more than 30hrs?
How old is your child?
Who do you rent from? Housing association, private landlord etc?

dazzadub

housing association
couple claim
what do u mean as applicable amount,

the amount they say i have per week is £188 per week on council letter

dazzadub

fluffymovie wrote: »

Ok that doesn't seem right.

Could you please post the following details?

On your letters, what Is your applicable amount?
Are you single or part of a couple?
Does your tax credit include an amount for working more than 30hrs?
How old is your child?
Who do you rent from? Housing association, private landlord etc?

oh child is 5 months old, and theres no element for over 30hrs per week as partner only contracted to 22hr pw.