Housing Benefit guide Discussion Area

LotsaLuck

Thanks BigAunty. I will start a new thread, then. Asking the council is the best idea, I just always feel that it's better to go in armed with knowledge, so thought I would try and get an answer elsewhere! Thanks and good day to ya!

marralad

As a crown property tenant would I be able to claim housing benefit. I have heard that crown properties are not covered by LHA.

Smamfer

Morning just a quickie

If i work part time 16 hours a week, receive tax credits etc can i also receive housing benefit?

Thanks

moonbeam_bear

Smamfer wrote: »

Morning just a quickie

If i work part time 16 hours a week, receive tax credits etc can i also receive housing benefit?

Thanks

Hiya Smamfer,
Yes you can get HB but it will be calculated on all your income.

moonbeam_bear

Hiya all,
Don't know if anyone can help, or send me a link to another disscussion regarding this...I recieved HB & CTB from May 2010-July 2011. I informed them my circumstances had changes in July 2011 ( my boys finishing college & my tax/child credit finishing ). They informed me I had to pay nearly all the money back from April 2011- July 2011 which I queried as my changes only came into effect in July/Aug. They looked into it from when I began my claim & then informed me THEY had mis-calculated my claim & I have to pay back all the benefits I have recieved bar a few pounds & the amount is over £2000. I am appealing the decission as I provided all the correct information & I don't see why I should be made to pay for their mistake. Wondered if anyone had any other advice, Thanks

moonbeam_bear

tomjonesrules wrote: »

Were the figures on your award notices correct?

They are saying now that they were not correct, & they are so confussing anyway, one lot I got was 13 pages long & when I asked in the office for someone to explain it to me I was told she didn't understand it herself. As they had all my wage slips etc I don't see how they can miscalculate it so badly.

uganda

moonbeam_bear wrote: »

They are saying now that they were not correct, & they are so confussing anyway, one lot I got was 13 pages long & when I asked in the office for someone to explain it to me I was told she didn't understand it herself. As they had all my wage slips etc I don't see how they can miscalculate it so badly.

The overpayment is local authority error - some local authority errors are recoverable and some are non-recoverable. For it to be non-recoverable, you need to argue, or they need to recognise, that you could not reasonably have been expected to have known you were being overpaid. If you can show that the letters were wrong, misleading or for an ordinary member of the public confusing, then you have every chance of having it written off. You should definitely ask them for a reconsideration of their decision to recover this overpayment.

moonbeam_bear

uganda wrote: »

The overpayment is local authority error - some local authority errors are recoverable and some are non-recoverable. For it to be non-recoverable, you need to argue, or they need to recognise, that you could not reasonably have been expected to have known you were being overpaid. If you can show that the letters were wrong, misleading or for an ordinary member of the public confusing, then you have every chance of having it written off. You should definitely ask them for a reconsideration of their decision to recover this overpayment.

Thanks Uganda, that is very helpful. I have sent 2 letters of appeal in November after it was looked into why they made the overpayment. Was told it has finally been assigned to someone on the 7th Jan, so just waiting to hear what they say.

picassopete

xploreit wrote: »

Can anybody tell me why housing benefit is paid to the Tenant? I am a Landlord and housing benefit used to be paid direct. It is now paid to the Tenant who is responsible for paying it to the Landlord. I now have tenants with rent arrears because they have not used their housing benefit to pay their rent. I still have to pay the mortgage and insurance, and maintain the properties, without an income! Surely the benefit should be paid direct to the Landlord to avoid these situations. Does anybody have a similar experience? and any advice please.

I am a HB tenant in the private sector. I couldn't agree with you more. i have always wanted my LL paid directly as i think this would encourage a few more LL to accept HB tenants. Unfortunatly tenants have to be 8 weeks in arrears before councils will consider paying direct.
We are about to move into a new property and i didn't know until recently that if a LL reduced the rent, ideally to the LHA rate, councils will pay direct. I realise not all LL can afford to do this but it may be of help to someone.

deguuuu

hello, this is my 1st post after joining . so here goes..... i would like to know if i am entitled to housing/council tax benefit, i am a single male i work over 30 + hours per week and my take home is £970 per calender month( salaried). my rent is £95 per week and council tax is £870 ( after single person discount applied ) any assistance would be truelly appreciated thanks in advance