housing benefit query

debbie_doo

hi all,

can someone help with this please, I have a friend who is currently on JSA and housing benefit etc...

They have been offered a job @ min wage for 24 hours a week, they are single and live alone (no kids). Can they still claim help towards rent costs?

I tried doing the benefits checker on here for them which came out at £43.00 a week towards rent but someone in the job centre did the benefits checker on the directgov website and it came out as zero?

I also looked into working tax credit but she needs to be working 30 hours for this

She will only be earning approx £600 a month and more than half this amount will be rent if she cannot get any help. It will be a bit sad really if she'll be better off staying on JSA any advice much appreciated

BigAunty

Usually the Turn2us online benefit checker is pretty accurate. Those on low incomes can get help with housing benefit (and council tax, too).

Double-check the Local Housing Allowance rate (if she is a private tenant) on the Direct Gov website. Those under 35 are only entitled to a shared property rate, not a 1 bedroom rate (it used to be under 25s but changed in January).

Then enter the info in the Turn2us calculator. What does it say?

debbie_doo

hi,

thank you for the advice. checked the info etc and on the turn2us calculator she would get £33.46 a week towards her rent and yes she is a private tenant. So that's quite reassuring it will defo make a difference to her knowing that there is at least something she can claim now, thanks again

It says zero for council tax tho? bit odd

daimonde

the Council Tax Benefit calculation is slightly different than the Housing Benefit one, just one figure in the calculation but it does mean its harder to qualify for.

they should be reassessed for both automatically though so shouldnt lose out if they are entitled to the CTB.

if your friend has been on JSA for 6months plus theres a good chance theyll qualify for a 4 week run on (extended payment period) of the HB / CTB at the full amounts too, they dont need to apply for this but might want to ask about it if it applies.



Dave.

debbie_doo

thanks Dave

HappyMJ

daimonde wrote: »

the Council Tax Benefit calculation is slightly different than the Housing Benefit one, just one figure in the calculation but it does mean its harder to qualify for.

they should be reassessed for both automatically though so shouldnt lose out if they are entitled to the CTB.

if your friend has been on JSA for 6months plus theres a good chance theyll qualify for a 4 week run on (extended payment period) of the HB / CTB at the full amounts too, they dont need to apply for this but might want to ask about it if it applies.

Dave.

I had to apply for the run on/extended payment period of HB and CTB.

daimonde

sorry getting a little off the original post but....

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/hbgm-c5-extended-payments.pdf

No longer a requirement to claim an EP

5.150 The LA should treat the move into work by the claimant/partner as a normal change of
circumstances. The LA should check for entitlement to
• an EP, and
• In-work HB/CTB


i expect some LAs ask for an application to confirm entitlement but as you can see its not required & I know our LA do the extended payments without an application.

as with a lot of benefits though, many decisions are made from 'guidance' and open to interpretation so not everyone sings off the same hymn sheet.