What am I entitled to as a single, unemployed man?

krisskross

What does your girlfriend claim ? You should be claiming as a couple as you obviously are.

BigAunty

6091833 wrote: »

..

It seems I should be getting £95 per week for Housing Benefit.

This still wouldn't cover my rent. Is there anything else I may be entitled to?

I just don't understand how the council expect me to make up the difference when I'm not working.

I had already been living in this property for a long time before I became unemployed so it's not as simple as moving out as I have a lease. Plus there would be the normal costs associated with moving house which I just can't afford at the moment.

You do know that not declaring a live-in partner to the relevant benefit organisations is inadvisable, don't you? In some cases, it is viewed as fraud. You sign documents to the effect that you live there alone and that you will notify them of a change in circumstance, you are obliged to do this.

You can apply for discretionary housing payment - its up to the local council to decide on a case by case basis if they will give you this temporary top-up, some councils may have spent their budget, others may award this to more vulnerable groups like those with disabilities or dependents. It's still a stop-gap, though.

Apart from this, there is no other magic bullet - you pay the difference out of other income, there's no other benefit for you to cover the shortfall.

See the Shelter website about your options, how to prevent arrears and eviction, also the MSE advice

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/housing-benefit

One option is to negotiate an early surrender with your landlord who is not obliged to agree but might find it more preferable than you going into arrears.

Many local councils operate deposit guarantee schemes to pay landlords a new deposit and there is some kind of DWP loan that someone can apply for that covers rent in advance, not sure what it is called.

Local Housing Allowance rates are calculated at the bottom third of local market rents, known as the 30th percentile. It used to be calculated at the 50th percentile, the median or average market rent but changed a year or two ago.

Your LHA with your girlfriend included works out at £411 per month and your rent is £600 so clearly the property is outwith the LHA rates by a substantial margin and will be largely unaffordable to you unless you are in employment.

6091833

BigAunty wrote: »

You do know that not declaring a live-in partner to the relevant benefit organisations is inadvisable, don't you? In some cases, it is viewed as fraud. You sign documents to the effect that you live there alone and that you will notify them of a change in circumstance, you are obliged to do this.

She stays here around 3 nights a week. The other nights she stays with her parents.

BigAunty wrote: »

Apart from this, there is no other magic bullet - you pay the difference out of other income, there's no other benefit for you to cover the shortfall.

Actually there is.

I have just got off the phone with the council and because I had been paying my own rent before I became unemployed, I am entitled to a 13 week protection period, during which my full rent will be paid.

They also told me that if my girlfriend moved in permanently it would not affect this 13 week protection period.

Thank you for your reply.

Mara69

BigAunty wrote: »

A couple who live together without dependents are entitled to a 1 bedroom housing benefit (LHA) rate at any age whereas a single person without dependents is only entitled to shared room rate if they are under 35 (used to be 25 but that changed in January).

Your local council website will have the LHA rates published.

But the OP has said she is living there 'unoffically'. Therefore, I would assume no joint claim etc and therefore entitlement to the shared rate only.

sniggings

moose1982 wrote: »

Yes, but under 35 would mean he would only be entitled to the 'shared house' rate, which is normally lower than the one bedroom home rate.

(They changed it fairly recently)

wow 35 now :eek:

BigAunty

6091833 wrote: »

She stays here around 3 nights a week. The other nights she stays with her parents.



Actually there is.

I have just got off the phone with the council and because I had been paying my own rent before I became unemployed, I am entitled to a 13 week protection period, during which my full rent will be paid.

They also told me that if my girlfriend moved in permanently it would not affect this 13 week protection period.

.

ah,yes, apologies for this, I should have remembered this option for new claimants with previous employment, sorry.

Mara69

But once the 13 weeks has expired, the OP will be back in the same position. So I guess he needs to up the job search, move the girlfriend in or look for a house share...

sniggings

anyone know what the shares rates are?

Are the the same throughout the country?

BigAunty

sniggings wrote: »

anyone know what the shares rates are?

Are the the same throughout the country?

No, they vary across all areas. You can identify the shared rate for LHA for private sector properties on the Direct Gov or local council websites.

sniggings

BigAunty wrote: »

No, they vary across all areas. You can identify the shared rate for LHA for private sector properties on the Direct Gov or local council websites.

Thanks.

Wow some interesting reading, in my area it's £85 for a one bed, in the City of London it's £250 for the same one bed :eek: