Confusion about Housing Benefit Change

MissMoneypenny

Jinks wrote: »

Sangio, I wouldn't mind taking in a flatmate if I had somewhere to put them, but I live in a small one bedroom flat!

I think the idea is that you move into a house share property. Have you tried Spareroom?

Jinks wrote: »

- I have cats and finding a ground floor flat with a landlord who is tolerant of them is a bit of a needle in a haystack search.

Renting with animals is always a problem and even more so if you are claiming housing benefits also as some landlords say "no pets or DSS". Some landlords don't allow a business to be run from the property as this affects their insurance.

If you have a landlord who has accepted your cats' and your SE business and you want to live on your own then, as someone has suggested, it might be best to look for a part time job to make up your benefit shortfall.

Edit: Crossed post with Dunroamin.

nannytone_2

yo be blunt, there has been an awful lot of notice about these changes!
it was announced a year ago, so considering you made plans for leaving your job and starting a business, it seems to me that you didnt invedtigate things as thoroughly as you should!

earthbound_misfit

You say your housing benefit is dropping by 'almost half' and that you get £70 a week at present. So that's £30-£35 you're losing.
Is there any way you can scrape back on outgoings (tips on these forums!) to the tune of £35? Little things add up... being self employed you'd presumably have more freedom to do things like shop at supermaket at the end of that day for reduced goods, living alone a water meter might reduce bills if you're paying a standard rate, anything you can claim back tax for that you need for work etc...

hbgirl

Jinks, the change in your employment WON'T make the change to the shared rate happen straight away. only changes in your housing circumstances would prompt the change to happen earlier.

eg if you moved house, say to another one bed flat, you would be assessed only on the one room with shared facilities rate of HB.

if your new self employment is similar earnings, you should get similar HB until september. you must tell the council straight away about this change whatever.

you should be ready to provide a realistic estimate of your new income or your claim could be suspended for some time whilst they ask for evidence of your new income, which can be difficult for self employed.