Housing Benefit guide Discussion Area

xcathx

Hi all, I've just read the article and I'm trying to figure out how the changes will affect me but am a bit stuck so any help would be appreciated.

I have been living on my own and claiming housing benefit since before 2008. Last week my partner moved in with me (also not working atm) so we went to the HB office to alert them of my change in circumstances so they can reassess my HB/CTB. They told us it'll take approx 3 months to give me a decision (they have to wait 6 weeks while my new IS claim is processed, then 6 weeks for them).

I have no idea if this change in circumstances will cause my benefit to change to lha or not, and as such, don't know if,how or when the cuts in April will affect us - which of the three boxes in the article would apply to me?

I would go back to the council office to ask, but I'm sure you're all aware how helpful and informative they are (!)

Between losing my partner's JSA, having to wait 6 weeks to find out if we can get any IS and not receiving any HB/CTB for the next 3 months, we're already finding ourselves in a bit of a tricky situation money-wise. At least if I know how this will affect us we can alter our budget.

Thanks in advance for the help

pandaspot

Hi your change is a change in circs it will not mean a change in your lha as two adults share a bedroom. The change in your income should mean you come off one and straight on to another.

The la will use the date of change as when you told them.

I have to say that's awful having to wait 3 months! Where I work we deal with a change within 10days! I know you get held up by the dwp but they seem a lot quicker than the 6 weeks you were told.

But anyway you won't have any change at all in your benefit entitlement

xcathx

Wow, 10 days? 3 months is pretty standard where I live, and that's if there are no problems with the claim. Having had to go through it all several years ago, I went to the council office this time armed with every possible bit of evidence and proof they might ask for and insisted they took copies of it there and then

My claim up until now has been based on the old HB assessment rules as it dates back to before the lha was introduced. Does this change in circs move me onto lha or do I stay on the old HB?

pandaspot

You will stay on the old rules. You will only change if there is a break in your claim.

Yeah 10 days and we are trying to get quicker . I think we are the top housing benefits office in Wales, not boasting lol.
We do everything we can do get claims done asap and correctly.

They must have a huge backlog where you live

xcathx

Thanks, that's a huge relief.

The staff here have terrible attitudes. They seem to think anyone who sets foot in the job centre or council office is lazy work-shy scum (to be fair, some are) & they resent having to deal with us. If I hadn't taken my evidence in to show them, they wouldn't have asked for it. They'd rather leave it to someone else to send me a letter in 2 months saying the claim is on hold til I send it.

I've only met one helpful person since having to claim benefits - my incapacity advisor. She's really understanding & will go out of her way to help. Shame the others can't be a bit more like her.

Fancy coming up here (north east) and showing them how it's done properly?

pandaspot

It is a shame they are like that gives us all a bad name, and we aren't all bad. There are human ones around with some compassion I have to say i do find job centre staff rude but think that's cause they are over stressed and stretched

I was actually looking at jobs in the north-east the other day but there is none. Fancied a change of scene

If you want any other help feel free to ask

xcathx

Thank you, you've been very helpful.

It's nice to know there are still some people working to help others

elleron

hi, can any one tell me if my retiring mother in law would be entitled to housing benefit if she rented a three bedroom house from her daughter. if so how much would it be in gateshead tyne and wear?
all help greatly appreciated.:j

KrazyKel

Im 25 and on the council waitinglist for a house/flat and would be needing to claim some LHA
Im worried about the age from april 11 for 1 bed/ shared accomodation

Rules now, I would get a 1 bed
I read that in April 11 I would only get a shared room rate, which I dont think I could afford so starting to worry a bit now

pandaspot

KrazyKel wrote: »

Im 25 and on the council waitinglist for a house/flat and would be needing to claim some LHA
Im worried about the age from april 11 for 1 bed/ shared accomodation

Rules now, I would get a 1 bed
I read that in April 11 I would only get a shared room rate, which I dont think I could afford so starting to worry a bit now

Hi as you will be renting a council property lha is not applicable. Lha is for private rental properties.

However if you were to start renting a private property then yes you would be only entitled to a shared bedroom rate as now. It's one hb rule that really winds me up. The government basically saying you should live at home and you are not an adult till your 25 and now from April, 35!