Any had trouble claiming for Housing Benefit?

falko89

I contacted them on the 4th, Rather than waiting for forms to be sent out I went and collected them, filled them all in etc returned them on 6th. All well and good, but apparently local offices now send them to county offices to be assessed. Contacted them just now to find out when I am going to be getting some money and how much. The damn thing hasn't even been looked at yet, and the guy said exactly

"I am telling you now it will be a while before its even looked at, there is quite a que in front of you"

Its not paid until the Monday after the claim and mine hasn't even been looked at, My parents helped us out with this months rent, by the sound of it this won't be sorted by next month.

Are they always this slow and useless?

Lady_gaga

So your moaning because your claim hasn't been dealt with in what is really 4 days?
They won't have received them until Monday and it's only Friday mid afternoon!!!

falko89

Lady_gaga wrote: »

So your moaning because your claim hasn't been dealt with in what is really 4 days?
They won't have received them until Monday and it's only Friday mid afternoon!!!

Its the fact this isn't back dated, If my claim was started then fine, So this week is out the window, next week 2 apparently, the following week it might start, but then it will take a while to accrue, I'd like to know how I am going to pay the rent next month.

Lady_gaga

OP, your claim will start from the 9th calm down...

Karl_Duffy

Hi All,

I have awarded a community care grant and the payment was sent to my account on thursday 12/12/12 i just wanted to know if there was any chance of this payment reaching my account on 14/12/12 thats saturday i bank with barclays if that helps. please answer ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

falko89

Oh well thats not so bad then. That wasn't explained to me.

Mara69

falko89 wrote: »

Are they always this slow and useless?

No, but they are overworked, overwhelmed and underpaid.

falko89

Would you believe this still hasn't been looked at:mad: Apparently they only have this week or it misses the January payment run, next payment 28 Feb 2012, Ridiculous. I can see why some land lords evict people over this.

giraffejoe

That is a huge wait for your claim to be looked at. I work in HB and our backlog is 1 week because the offices closed down over Xmas and New Year. However the place I work is a relatively small town so it would depend on where exactly you live and how many claims have to be dealt with.

emsywoo123

falko89 wrote: »

Would you believe this still hasn't been looked at:mad: Apparently they only have this week or it misses the January payment run, next payment 28 Feb 2012, Ridiculous. I can see why some land lords evict people over this.

They've had 9/10 working days!! Blimey of course it's not sorted yet!

[Deleted User]

falko89 wrote: »

Its the fact this isn't back dated, If my claim was started then fine, So this week is out the window, next week 2 apparently, the following week it might start, but then it will take a while to accrue, I'd like to know how I am going to pay the rent next month.

it will be paid from the monday following your application,BUT it can take as long as 8 weeks(not always,ours took 5,my bil`s 12)