Housing Benefit - £35 pw

Roryh

So one month or more ago I emailed my local Housing Executive to see how much I am entitled to from Housing Benefits. Because I am under 25 I was entitled to £56 which I don't think will find me anywhere to live. Yesterday I went back up again only to find that I am now only entitled to £35 p.w. The only way I can find a place to live is if I share a flat with someone but have been told that if I share a flat with someone I will lose even more from the Housing Benefit. I have been on the Housing list for one year. In the past year and a half I have been receiving harrassment at this house (I live in a council estate in Northern Ireland) and need to get out. Could someone give me some tips? The housing have been useless with the whole case.

Roryh

For some reason it won't let me post paragraphs.

MrsManda

I don't know how it works in N.I. but in England single people under 25s only get the shared accommodation rate. This will change in January 2012 to under 35s.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_10018928

The only way I can find a place to live is if I share a flat with someone but have been told that if I share a flat with someone I will lose even more from the Housing Benefit

Are you getting mixed up between living in shared accommodation and living with someone as a couple?

Roryh

Sorry Under 25s also get Shared Accomodation over here. In regards to moving in with someone, I haven't got a partner but if I have a friend move in with me who also claims benefits, will we have out money furthur reduced. I will not be eligible for anywhere to live until I am 35 now. Yeah(!)

dmg24

What income do you have, do you work?

sunnyone

dmg24 wrote: »

What income do you have, do you work?

Your in box is full, there is a thread in the arms about you if you havnt seen it yet.

Roryh

sunnyone wrote: »

Your in box is full, there is a thread in the arms about you if you havnt seen it yet.

Sorry my inbox is full? I don't have any mail though. What thread is this you're speaking off?

fluffymovie

If you take on a tenancy in your own name and have a mate come to live with you, they will be classed as a non dependent unless they are paying you rent. If they pay you rent, this would be used when we look at your weekly income and so your HB may well change.

Regarding the drop in the LHA rate, all LHA rates reduced from the 50th percentile to the 30th on 1 April 2011

real1314

fluffymovie wrote: »

If you take on a tenancy in your own name and have a mate come to live with you, they will be classed as a non dependent unless they are paying you rent. If they pay you rent, this would be used when we look at your weekly income and so your HB may well change.

Regarding the drop in the LHA rate, all LHA rates reduced from the 50th percentile to the 30th on 1 April 2011

Does this apply to sharers each on single room rents though?

Or would the rent be re-assessed on the basis of 2 bed LHA if the OP had someone move in (as a non-dep) and then have the non dep deduction applied?

WPN

£35pw?! Would be curious if anyone could find a place in the UK for that unless they are living in a shed or rabbit hutch.

HappyMJ

WPN wrote: »

£35pw?! Would be curious if anyone could find a place in the UK for that unless they are living in a shed or rabbit hutch.

A challenge....How about Nottingham single room £27 per week http://www.spareroom.co.uk/flatshare/flatshare_detail.pl?flatshare_id=1264974&search_id=54251803&city_id=&flatshare_type=offered&search_results=%2Fflatshare%2Findex.cgi%3F%26search_id%3D54251803%26offset%3D0%26sort_by%3Dprice_low_to_high&