newly redundant, don't understand housing benefit!

smi85

Hi all

I'm currently serving my redundancy notice and will more than likely be claiming benefits from the end of the month.

I live in a flat with my flatmate (a friend not a relation or dependant). The rent is £650 per month, my share being £325. I calculated the LHA rate for me to be £103 per week but this changed to £60 per week as I would only be claiming for my room.

Am I correct in thinking if my weekly rent is £81, then HB covers £60 per week and I make up the remaining £21?

Thanks,

Stephen

pmlindyloo

Housing allowance varies from local authority to local authority.

If you are under 35 you will only get the shared accomodation rate. You can look up what this amount is on your local council website.

If you are over 35 then you would get the one bedroomed rate. HB is means tested so if you have oodles of savings then you may not be eligible.

If your share of the accomodation is more than the housing allowance then yes, you would be expected to 'top up' the rest.

I believe you could apply for discretionary housing allowance to make up the amount but I do not know how this works. Will try and find out or perhaps someone else might know.

PS Found a link for you about Discretionary Housing Payments:

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

One other thing before I forget. HB is paid weekly so if your rent is paid monthly and you need to pay a 'top up' it may not be quite so bad when you spread the HB over the months.

RAS

if your rent is per calendar month, your weekly rental is £75 (325/4.333333)

Caz3121

pmlindyloo wrote: »

If you are under 35 you will only get the shared room rate. You can look up what this amount is on your local council website.

If you are over 35 then you would get the one bedroomed rate. HB is means tested so if you have oodles of savings then you may not be eligible.

just an addendum here, even if you are over 35, if you are in shared accommodation, it will be the shared rate that applies

The discretionary housing payment may cover the difference if it can be shown that you have been paying your rent yourself for x months before you need to claim. It is discretionary and would only be for a limited time (intended for people to either get back to work or find somewhere cheaper)

boobies

smi85 wrote: »

Hi all

I'm currently serving my redundancy notice and will more than likely be claiming benefits from the end of the month.

I live in a flat with my flatmate (a friend not a relation or dependant). The rent is £650 per month, my share being £325. I calculated the LHA rate for me to be £103 per week but this changed to £60 per week as I would only be claiming for my room.

Am I correct in thinking if my weekly rent is £81, then HB covers £60 per week and I make up the remaining £21?

Thanks,

Stephen

Yes, that is correct. However if you have been able to afford your rent for the past 52 weeks you will qualify for thirteen weeks protection, which means you will receive £81 per week for that period.

pmlindyloo

boobies wrote: »

Yes, that is correct. However if you have been able to afford your rent for the past 52 weeks you will qualify for thirteen weeks protection, which means you will receive £81 per week for that period.

I know this is posted on the Shelter website but I cannot find any information about it on a government website or local authority website.

Just for my own information can you please give me a link?

My understanding was that all new claims after January 2012 would automatically be at the shared accommodation rate but would be pleased to be corrected/informed otherwise.

smi85

Thanks for all the help, has cleared that up for me. Hate all the uncertainty, as I've always been in work, fingers crossed I will find work before my 3 weeks is up.