Leaving Home & Housing Benefit

Worthingchappie1983

Hi,

I am a 26yr old chap in need of my own place.

I currently reside with my father who is an alcoholic, and I am off sick from work since May 2011 with Anxiety, Depression, OCD and Panic Disorder.

I am still employed and do not receive sick pay anymore from my employer, however receive around 50% of my salary each month by means of Employment Support Allowance and a salary protection scheme.

I really need to move out and find alternative accommodation as I should have done this a long time ago, and my illness is not helped by living with my alcoholic, volatile Father.

I wish to claim for housing benefit, however have been told that most letting agents will require admin fees, deposit and rent in advance.

I feel completely deflated after being told the above today, as I really need my own place but hav'nt got the GBP 1,000 + required.

Does anyone know of any agencies, charities or government schemes that could provide financial assistance with me moving out.

I would be very grateful for any help.

Thank you in anticipation.

BigAunty

Some local councils run deposit guarantee schemes for those in housing need or low income or benefits. Check if yours does and what the criteria is.

Another MSE member may be able to tell you if you qualify for a budgeting type of loan from the DWP and what the criteria is.

Another alternative is a Credit Union (a safe way of avoiding loan sharks) as they give loans to low income members, though you made need to show a history of being able to save with them first before they grant a loan.

As someone under 35, you'd only be entitled to a shared accommodation rate (not a 1 bedroom self contained property) and you can identify the maximum Local Housing Allowance for this on the Direct Gov website. Your employment income may reduce your LHA. You can identify this on the Turn2us online benefit calculator.

As it's more cost effective for you to share a property, why are you going to letting agents as they mainly deal in self contained properties - it would be cheaper for you to find a landlord with a bedsit or room to let, or a live in landlord seeking a lodger, with landlords directly on websites like Gumtree, Spare room, etc. That way you probably won't need to pay an admin fee.

Many landlords will not rent their properties to someone on HB (LHA) - you probably reduce your chances of securing a place by a very large degree by trying to find accommodation without paid employment. Those who do often demand a guarantor, someone in paid employment, perhaps a house owner, who will pay the rent if you default. Do you have a guarantor?

Are you getting any help overcoming your health issues and getting back to work? If you recover, and return to your employer, you will parachute into a property.

Are you getting any help or support in being related to/living in close proximity to an alcoholic - there are usually charities or support groups, even online ones, that can help you with the pressure of this.

EDIT - I note from another post that you indicate you have a bad credit record - do you have any CCJs? Those with very poor records, especially CCJs find it even harder to find a landlord to accept them. You can end up losing agency fees if you fail a tenant check, as well as the offer of accommodation. How bad is your record?

redbicycle

I had an application rejected because I would be claiming HB, and I did have fairly substantial savings and a guarantor.

It was an insurance thing I think mainly.

redbicycle

The only other thing is whether you could claim DLA - have you tried - it is a bit of a difficult form, but the thing to note is that getting it would upgrade you to being entitled to 1-bed LHA.

BigAunty

redbicycle wrote: »

The only other thing is whether you could claim DLA - have you tried - it is a bit of a difficult form, but the thing to note is that getting it would upgrade you to being entitled to 1-bed LHA.

Is that a blanket policy for all DLA claimants under the age of 35 or limited to those on certain rates of DLA or are classed as severely disabled?

redbicycle

Actually I'm wromg, you would need at least middle rate care DLA, lower rate doesn't qualify for this.

However you would get disability premium on JSA at low rate dla, and severe disability premium on middle rate, so it's worth a go.