LHA, ESA & Disability

TeenyBash

Hello,

I have a few queries that I hope somebody can help me with.

I was made redundant in July last year and had an operation in November. I'm currently battling ill health and I'm in receipt of ESA (Employment and Support Allowance), housing benefit at the LHA (local housing allowance) rate and council tax benefit. I'm awaiting the result of DLA (disability living allowance) claim. My personal circumstances are thus:

I'm 28 years old. I privately rent a one bedroom flat, and have lived here for 3 years. My rent is £400pcm. My LHA is £86.54 a week (or £346.16 a month, a little less with the way the council calculate/spread the payments over a year). I'm currently actively seeking new employment, but I am limited by my disability(ies).

My rent was £450pcm. After the first 13 weeks (which I was on JSA after my intial redundancy) my housing benefit was dropped from covering my full pcm rent to the LHA, of £346.16pcm. I asked the council for discretionary payments, which they awarded me until this month. So they have now ended.

During this time I spoke to my landlord about my current difficulties and we agreed to do a tenancy agreement between ourselves, and cut out the letting agent who was managing (or not, as the case maybe) my flat. This shaved off their 12% fee. Leaving me with a £50pcm reduction and my landlord a couple of pound better off a month. So as of the 1st February my rent will be £400pcm...

...In November while I was trying to arrange the above with my landlord, I contacted the council to say that I can no longer afford my rent and in January I would be facing homelessness. I recieved a Home Choice welcome pack last week (council housing), but was slightly shocked to see I'd only been awarded 5 points. Given my health issues (I sent proof of this) and the imminent risk of homelessness, I would have thought I'd be awarded more than this. Does this seem low to anyone?

I have looked for cheaper housing, but I'm tied. I have no deposit and no advanced rent. I told the council this. I have a dog, whom I spoke to the vet about the possibility of rehoming (breaking my heart), but they said there was no chance because of his health/age, further tying my hands. Also, I have set up alerts for new 1 bedroom properties in this area, and around and not one has come up for the LHA pcm. They do NOT exist. It's impossible.

...So, currently with my LHA of £346.16pcm this still leaves me to top up £53.84pcm (or more) from my ESA. I have got my total monthly outgoings down to £694.43. But my total monthly income is £694.16. I have haggled, switched and begged creditors/companies to reach this amount. My food/toiletry bill a month is £70. I have nothing else I can shave money off. I have no money left a month for clothes, travel or hair cuts etc. This is proving extremely difficult as I have limited mobility as it is. Clothes for interviews I did have are now rather ragged and this worries me...

...Basically I'm struggling to survive, and doing everything possible to improve my situation.

So, what I would like to know is, given that I am receiving ESA, is there any extra help I can get towards my LHA? I have read something about being awarded a personal allowance towards LHA, if you are receiving ESA. Does anyone know anything about this?

I would appreciate any advice given. Many thanks in advance.

nannytone_2

i dont know of any addition allowances that are made to people receiving ESA to top up LHA, but that doesnt mean there arent any.

Another problem for the future is the changes in rates of LHA. As you are under 35, the rules state that on the anniversary of your claim, you will only be entitled to the shared rate and not the 1 bed rate. I dont know if ESA affects this, but receiving DLA could mean that you are still entitled to the 1 bed rate.

Sorry to be so gloomy. Hope things go ok for you.

TeenyBash

I appreciate your reply. Yes, I also read about the under 35 rule :-( I hope to be back in work by that time.

Morglin

You can check that you are getting the correct points with this:

http://www.housingnet.co.uk/HousingPointsCalculator.php

If you have provided proof, then you should get more points with regard to disabilities.

Shelter may have more info:

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/paying_for_a_home/housing_benefit_and_local_housing_allowance/housing_benefit_for_young_people

Lin

TeenyBash

Thank you for your reply.

I contacted the council today. It would appear I haven't been awarded enough points, given my circumstances. I did fully explain my situation in my application, don't know how or why the overlooked it, apart from hoping I'd go away.

Anny_2

Hi Teeny,

Try some local Housing Associations..with your disabilities you would be awarded points and they seem to be more generous in awarding points than the local Councils, plus, you would also in all probability be able to keep your dog,
I have a little dog and it would break my heart to have to part with him..so I understand.

Good luck..lets hope you get awarded DLA and that takes the pressure off a little.

Take care.

HB58

I believe that you have to be further down the process of notice -> court case -> eviction before the council class you as 'imminently homeless', so that might explain why you got fewer points than you expected.

I wish you luck and hope that you manage to get something sorted out.

TeenyBash

I've had a look on the Shelter website, and filled out a question forms. In my circumstances it says I would be classed as homeless if I can no longer afford where I am. So not totally sure.

alfchild

Hi it will depend where in the country you are also. Here we can only use a 'bidding' system which is all housing (exept private). Here they put you in a band 1 immediate 2 2 of band 3 reasons 3 overcrowding, standard medical reasons 4 everyone else.
Origianly they put me in band 4 then moved me up to band 3 when medical reasons were explained. But after having enviro health telling them we were overcrowded they would only put down medical or overcrowded but not both to put us up a band. We appealed and did alsorts but got nowhere.
Hope you have more luck

BigAunty

TeenyBash wrote: »

...

...In November while I was trying to arrange the above with my landlord, I contacted the council to say that I can no longer afford my rent and in January I would be facing homelessness. I recieved a Home Choice welcome pack last week (council housing), but was slightly shocked to see I'd only been awarded 5 points. Given my health issues (I sent proof of this) and the imminent risk of homelessness, I would have thought I'd be awarded more than this. Does this seem low to anyone?

...

As you will see from the Shelter website, the definition of homelessness is about having no security of tenure in a period of less than 28 days.

So unless your landlord had served notice and it was approaching the date of notice (or court order for possession depending on the councils interpretation) you would be classed as adequately housed, not homeless.

You may have felt 'homeless' because of the risk of your landlord serving you notice if you had rent arrears or refused to reduce the rent but you may not necessarily have fallen within the statutory defintion of homeless.
which is where the highest priority/points is given.

However, as others have said, double check that you've been allocated the right points for your medical/health issues.

TeenyBash wrote: »

... I have got my total monthly outgoings down to £694.43. But my total monthly income is £694.16. I have haggled, switched and begged creditors/companies to reach this amount. .My food/toiletry bill a month is £70

It is very difficult for a single person to afford to live in a self contained property on basic benefits, virtually impossible with debts.

Download the MSE budget planner and go to the Debt free wanabee board about your debts. They will want you to post a statement of affairs (or accounts) I forget which and you will see how to do this.

Go through the site and forums, particularly the old style boards, because they will give you even more extreme money saving advice. For example, an MSE member has produced a website where a family of 4 can eat all meals for £100 a month. Because of the economy of scale for bigger purchases, you are unlikely to get it down to £25 but you can definately reduce your spend.

TeenyBash wrote: »

... I have no deposit and no advanced rent. I told the council this. I have a dog, whom I spoke to the vet about the possibility of rehoming (breaking my heart), but they said there was no chance because of his health/age, further tying my hands. ...

Many councils operate rent deposit guarantee schemes for those in housing need/low income. Check if yours does.

If you do not get an award for DLA and do not secure employment, and do not get a social housing property, then realistically, your only option is to move into a house share. A site like SpareRoom has a search feature for properties which accept pets, otherwise call round other pet charities, not just your vet, to find out about rehoming or fostering.

BigAunty

TeenyBash wrote: »

I've had a look on the Shelter website, and filled out a question forms. In my circumstances it says I would be classed as homeless if I can no longer afford where I am. So not totally sure.

Link please.