First time housing benefit for young poor couple?!

youngcouple

Hello

Me and my girlfriend are in a bit of a predicament and we are trying to navigate our way through our housing benefit eligibility and the steps we need to take to get it if we are eligible!

I would be really grateful if you have any advice or recommendations for us. here’s an overview of our situation with some questions thrown in where i get stuck! S0:

• we are based in NW london.
  
• we are a couple living in private rented accommodation, and we currently have the opportunity to work off our rent with the landlady (gardening etc!). However we have just been told that we need to move out by 1st March.
  
• we would like to move either into a shared room in shared house or share a studio flat, and we think we are entitled to housing benefit based on our circumstances:

Me

• British citizen, 24 years old
• self employed massage therapist, earning on average £800 per month (1-15 hours)
• no savings or property, trustfunds etc

My partner

• German citizen, 24 years old, been in the uk for over a year
• currently unemployed (apart from work for landlady which isn’t formal)
• no savings etc
• has a casual job lined up for dog walking and something on paper for 10 hours a week at £7 ph - £280pcm.
• may become a full time student in September (waiting for interview results)

Our first problem is that we don’t have any spare cash for a deposit and first month rent for either a room in shared house or a studio, and are unlikely to be able to gather the amount needed in time.

So first question is:

1. Is there any support available for the deposit, and a months rent in advance?

2. I think, but i am not 100% sure that our local housing allowance category as a couple under 25 is ‘one bedroom self contained’ - is this right?

Which means then our LHA rate is £260pw for the postcode for where we currently live (and where we would like to stay).

i am unsure of the difference between our LHA category and rate if we

1. share a room in a shared house?
2. move into a studio?

Do we need to have found somewhere (either a studio or room in shared house), have moved in and are receiving utility bills, bank statements etc before we can claim housing benefit? or can we set something up to kick in beginning of march?


Thank you very much for reading and helping us.

Jowo_2

You will find the LHA direct website, and Shelter website, useful to understand how LHA works and to calculate your allowance. The Turn2us website will help you identify your current entitlements (it's no good for calculations that involve full time students).

Many local councils run deposit guarantee schemes for those in housing need/low income/on benefits - check your local council website to understand the qualifying criteria and if they run this tupe of scheme. Do you have a relative that can lend you the money or any chance of a loan/overdraft from the bank? Look if joining a Credit Union could help you with a low interest loan (some require you to have saved with them before they will loan money, though).

You need to find a tenancy first before you can apply for LHA - have a contract with the landlord (an AST, assured shorthold tenancy, is the norm). Utility bills are irrelevant. Many landlords do not like renting properties to those on low income/benefits and may require you to provide a guarantor. Many shared properties do not like renting the spare rooms to couples - you can get them but the majority are for single people.

Are you aware that your incomes will be taken into account when calculating what LHA you can receive (you cite the Maximum rate payable but this will reduce because of your income). Full time students are rarely eligible for LHA. There are many proposed changes to LHA that kick in during the next few years - one of which will reduce the 1 bedroom limit to £250. You need to understand the impact of these changes as things will get tougher for low income tenants.

Are you happy to leave on 1st March? Do you live in the same property as your landlord? Have they served you proper notice or are you confused about your rights.

iwanttosavemoney2008

Well I'm not sure about the housing benefits part of it (someone will be along later about that) but with regards to the bond and 1st months rent there is a social fund which you can apply for a bugeting loan from (go to your local jobcentre plus links here for more info http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_10018905)

you do have to pay it back but it is interest free for the duration of it. hth

DX2

iwanttosavemoney2008 wrote: »

Well I'm not sure about the housing benefits part of it (someone will be along later about that) but with regards to the bond and 1st months rent there is a social fund which you can apply for a bugeting loan from (go to your local jobcentre plus links here for more info http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_10018905)

you do have to pay it back but it is interest free for the duration of it. hth

Not really applicable for the OP.

Who is eligible?

You may be able to get a Budgeting Loan if you or your partner have been claiming or getting payment of one of the following benefits for at least 26 weeks:

• Income Support
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Pension Credit

iwanttosavemoney2008

DX2 wrote: »

Not really applicable for the OP.

Who is eligible?

You may be able to get a Budgeting Loan if you or your partner have been claiming or getting payment of one of the following benefits for at least 26 weeks:

• Income Support
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Pension Credit

I have claimed both budgeting loans and crisis loans I just pay them off by standing order rather than having money taken out of a benefit i don't receive. Also the OP said she would/might apply for housing benefit and so would be eligible once she had applied.

DX2

iwanttosavemoney2008 wrote: »

I have claimed both budgeting loans and crisis loans I just pay them off by standing order rather than having money taken out of a benefit i don't receive. Also the OP said she would/might apply for housing benefit and so would be eligible once she had applied.

I'm still missing the part where housing benefit equals eligible to claim a Budgeting loan.