Housing Benefit/DHP

bwals92

Hi there,

I am currently in receipt of full housing benefit that sums up to around £326 per month. My rent was set to increase from £350 to £375 on December 29th 2011. As soon as I was notified by my landlord, I notified my local council who told me to take in proof. I did so, but when I got there I was told that I was too late, and it should have been given to them before my 'review', and so I was not eligable for an increase.

I phoned up at the start of December 2011 asking them for some help, and the helpful person told me that I could apply for DHP to top my rent up (so that I could afford to pay it).

In February 2012, I was told that I would not be eligible for DHP as my 'income exceeds my outgoings'. I don't know where they got this information from, as it really doesn't. I am in receipt of Income Support (joint claim with partnet) and I work and go to college. After all of my monthly finances are calculated, I have worked out that we are -£15, but somehow we do manage to get by, please note that this is only neccessities, we cannot afford luxuries. Anyway, I wrote out a clear table of all our finances and sent them a letter, clearly showing that our income does not exceed our outgoings.

And so, on the 22nd February I sent them a big letter pleading them to review the claim. The letter was forwarded onto the council manager and receipt was confirmed.

Now, on the 18th May 2012, we are still non the wiser, I have made a few calls and each time got the same answer, 'the only thing we can do is pass on the message'. I have suffered bank charges because of this lengthy delay and had to borrow money from my Sister (£125), this has covered the shortfall up until the end of May, at which point I will need to borrow more. The thing is, I have nobody to borrow money off anymore and my Sister needs the money back ASAP. I fear that I won't be able to pay my rent this month and I'm going to get into a lot of debt (my estate agents charge £40 for a missed payment).

Can anybody give me advice?

karenx

Really you should be looking to move to a cheaper place, if you do get this payment it's only temporary so you will end up in the same position as you are now. How can you not afford £50 per month? how much do you earn?

bwals92

I only have a part time job, and get under £300 per month. Out income support is significantly reduced because of my earnings, so we get pretty much the same as if I'm not working.

A new place would be be ideal, but the cost of moving is even more expensive. I do only have to fork out £25 per month, which would have been included in our housing benefit claim had I been told to take in proof of the increase earlier than I did.

My finances are pretty tight, I keep everything on track and avoid borrowing money or going into debt like the plague, so I have no room to pay the extra. We don't have any luxuries and don't go out very often, it's a case of waiting for my girlfriend to get a job.

karenx

Why do you get income support?

bwals92

Due to circumstances beyond my control, I left home at the age of 18 while still in full time education.

karenx

Should that not of stopped now you are living with a partner and you work?

bwals92

It doesn't stop as my income makes no difference to our claim. This surfaces pretty much every time I post on here. Our claim was reassessed and I have to take my payslips in on a regular basis, and the DWP have been notified, as well as my local council.

I just want to get the initial issue addressed (DHP)...

BigAunty

Do you have any debts apart from rent arrears and bank charges? You are struggling with an additional expense of £5.80 per week, plus have indicated your income doesn't meet your expenses. What is your overdraft?

What is your actual monthly income (employment, benefits and any student bursaries/loans/grants)? Do you qualify for a student loan and if so, have you taken it?

There is a debt free wanabee board that can help you tackle debt and spending. They may be able to advise you if you can reclaim bank charges.

See the Shelter website about how to prevent and deal with rent arrears.

Speak to them about the letting agent's £40 fee as while I'm aware rent arrears can be subject to a modest amount of interest, I wouldn't think that a fine is valid or enforceable. Shelter will tell you your rights.

Rent is a priority debt - see the Direct Gov website about debt management. This means your rent (along with council tax) is your number 1 bill! You should not see the extra £25 per month as an optional payment - other expenses have to suffer but not this one. This neglect can lead to your homelessness - a late payment to a utility bill or credit card will not, for example.


Your college may have a hardship fund - go and speak to student support services.

DHP - note the 'discretionary' part - although they've given you a reason to decline it (and one that you dispute), the local council simply don't have to give it to any tenants.

If they do, it's only a temporary thing and won't necessarily get renewed. Though it would ease the pressure and prevent your eviction, it's really nothing more than a sticking plaster on the fundamental issue that you can't seem to live on the money you have coming in for whatever reason this is.

Therefore your main options are to increase your income (more employment, hardship grant, student loan if you are eligible, see the 'Up your income' board on MSE) or decrease your expenses (slashing your spending). To do this, download the MSE budget planner and work through the site to identify ways to reduce your spending on utilities, household bills and so on.

Anubis_2

karenx wrote: »

Should that not of stopped now you are living with a partner and you work?

It will be a topup only. For example, if she is entitled to 111.00 pw for her and her partner, and she earns £75.00 pw, 55.00 is deducted off income support as they take £ for £ after £20.

She will not get the full income support amount. You are allowed to keep £20 of any earnings and that is it. Everything else is taken and if there is anything left, when your wages are deducted from the amount the law says you need to live on, that is what you are entitled to.

bwals92

Thanks for your replies, I am a he.

My girlfriend has miraculously managed to get a job since the start of this thread. This means we will finally be free of benefits

I'm not struggling with debt, I have had to borrow £125 from my sister to cover the shortfall in rent. My family has helped me pay my bank charges.

Hmm, I doubt I'll get that money back now though, even though they admitted it was their fault for not informing me that I had to bring proof of the rent increase by a certain date