advice please re LHA

sunshine2012_2

hi all, i've been a MSE'er since 2006 but for obvious reasons i have made a new username to safeguard me as i have friends and family who also use the site.

my query is about LHA (local housing allowance), i've made the decision to leave my partner of 11 years, (i dont need to go into the details etc) and i am currently looking for somewhere for me and our 2 girls to live.

I have the opportunity to rent a house from the start of the year, at the moment i'm thinking i cant afford it, but after checking on 'entitled to' website i see i would be eligable for tax credits which would boost my income (i have 2 part time jobs) and work upto 16 hours a week.

never been on benefites before so its all new to me, but i've been reading about the LHA and our local area LHA is £109 for 2 bed property.

the webiste says i would be entitled to this? but it seems to good to be true? does it mean the full amount or a preportion of this amount??

can anyone give me advice or experience of their claims for LHA, any info would be much appreciated:)

thankyou

Caz3121

the LHA is the maximum they pay...eg if you had no income. As it is they will take your income into account and reduce this. If you run through the calculator here https://www.turn2us.entitledto.co.uk/ selecting tenant-private sector on the first page, complete your details and it should give you an indication of how much help you may get

BigAunty

Remember that any child support payments from the non-resident parent will not affect any means tested benefits.

Check the CSA website for an indicator of the percentage of their salary that your ex would be expected to pay.

Many landlords will not accept tenants who claim LHA, and those that do may demand that you provide a guarantor (someone who will pay the rent if you default) but your employment should stand you in better stead.

Some councils run deposit guarantee schemes for those on low income or in housing need. They pay the deposit to the landlord.

[Deleted User]

you could have a word with CAB and see what help in total you might get

sunshine2012_2

thanks guys, i used the website above and entered all my details, and it did give the results of the full LHA, but was dubious whether this meant the full amount or up to that amount? i want to be careful and make sure i know clearly what i am entitled to before i commit to any tennant agreements etc...

i suppose i would be classed as low income, my soon to be ex partner has quite a high income, this is why i have no experience of benefits etc...i've had a look at the forms to claim LHA online and they are pages and pages long!! yikes! i hope its not as hard as it looks!

Oldernotwiser

sunshine2012 wrote: »

thanks guys, i used the website above and entered all my details, and it did give the results of the full LHA, but was dubious whether this meant the full amount or up to that amount? i want to be careful and make sure i know clearly what i am entitled to before i commit to any tennant agreements etc...

i suppose i would be classed as low income, my soon to be ex partner has quite a high income, this is why i have no experience of benefits etc...i've had a look at the forms to claim LHA online and they are pages and pages long!! yikes! i hope its not as hard as it looks!

As your partner has a high income, don't forget that you should receive a decent percentage of this as child maintenance.

BigAunty

The sum shown on the Turn2us online benefit calculator should be relatively accurate and show what's due (as long as you put correct data in).

However, local council websites often have their own calculator, too, so you could run a double check on it.