Housing Benefit, and moving home

swiss721

Unfortunately I've just started claiming housing benefit, despite having a decent job due to massive rents in my area, and my wife not getting any maternity pay from her job..... aaaaanyhow...

Now we're getting hassle from neighbours and want to move asap. One person who works for a council told me, as its the first month, we can just write a letter and tell them of a new address if we move. Another person says we've got to re-apply again from scratch if we move....
which is right? or do councils vary?

If we just moved and worried about all this later would it be a big problem? We'll not be moving to anything anymore expensive.

Thanks for looking

lovecrafting

im not sure how it works to be honest but i just wanted to let you know, you might find it harder to move because of the HB alot of landlords dont want people on housing benefit.

we moved into a council property recently and only had to fill in a form to say our circumstances were the same but the adress was different. but it was the same local council that we moved from and to, if we had moved over the border then we would have needed to re apply completley.HTH

Shawn_Dark

In my experience, it varies for council to council. I'm pretty sure if your moving to an area with a different council then you'll need to re-apply. Otherwise, you dont.

fluffymovie

In my LA, we have a specific change of address form for people moving within our area. It doesn't matter if it's day 1, month 1 or after 4 years!! If you move to an address in a different borough to the one you are in now, you have to reclaim with that council.

If you wait to claim until you are in the new place, you can do but I always recommend you claim before you move just incase, as in my la, they have a backlog

Rain_is_Insane

I'm in a similar situation (moving in 4 weeks due to downsizing) I rang my LHA and they told me just to bring in my new rent agreement as soon as possible to avoid an overpayment.

I'm sure if you ring them they will advise you accordingly....good luck with the move!!!!