Under 35 Housing Benefit (Housing Assoc.)

PurpleGoldFish

pmlindyloo wrote: »

(not enough time to produce a few children - sorry, couldn't resist it :rotfl:)

Oh, even if he wanted to he'd struggle. He's gay-er than.... erm, me.

sniggings

PurpleGoldFish wrote: »

I think you're getting confused, more so than I was to start with.

LHA is a benefit rate given for PRIVATE lets.
HB is a benefit for social (inc. Housing Assoc.)

I just wanted to know whether the shared rate applied to Housing Benefit as well as LHA. From the information I've found on-line this doesn't seem to be the case, but if anyone knows otherwise I'd still like to been given a pointer to the relivant information.

LHA is for both! Housing benefit is what I get and I'm in a private rental, I'm not saying I'm not confused but I think you are still.

pickpocketlocket

sniggings wrote: »

LHA is for both! Housing benefit is what I get and I'm in a private rental, I'm not saying I'm not confused but I think you are still.

PurpleGoldFish is correct, LHA is for private rentals and HB is for social housing. LHA is a type of HB, but the calculation is different from the traditional HB one. LHA is not used for social housing at all.

PGF, you are correct, the shared room rate does not apply to those in social housing. However, the "bedroom tax" that is due to come in next year will apply, so he would be best advised to find a one bed property.

PhGage

It's generally assumed that shared accommodation rate for the under-35s won't apply to the social renting sector: however, it seems there's some controversy concerning some of the language that may leave it open for SAR to be applied there as well as the private rental sector.

“From 1 April 2013 it is intended to introduce size criteria for new and existing working-age Housing Benefit claimants living in the social rented sector. The size criteria will replicate the size criteria that apply to Housing Benefit claimants in the private rented sector and whose claims are assessed using the local housing allowance rules”

The implication is that this would include the shared accommodation/single room limit for single under 35s being applied to social housing. Joe has sought clarification from the DWP and we understand that Inside Housing may have as well, but so far, nothing from the DWP.

See http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/2012/03/single-room-rate-and-social-housing/

As far as I know, there hasn't been definitive clarification from DWP as yet.

pickpocketlocket

PhGage wrote: »

It's generally assumed that shared accommodation rate for the under-35s won't apply to the social renting sector: however, it seems there's some controversy concerning some of the language that may leave it open for SAR to be applied there as well as the private rental sector.



See http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/2012/03/single-room-rate-and-social-housing/

As far as I know, there hasn't been definitive clarification from DWP as yet.

The link is from March. It has since been confirmed that the bedroom tax will be introduced from April 2013.

underling

There will still be no shared accommodation rate applied to tenants of social housing.

The ‘bedroom tax’ is based on under occupying bedrooms. No one could be under occupying a bedroom in a one bed room property unless they are not living there!

sniggings

underling wrote: »

There will still be no shared accommodation rate applied to tenants of social housing.

The ‘bedroom tax’ is based on under occupying bedrooms. No one could be under occupying a bedroom in a one bed room property unless they are not living there!

your more confusing than us :rotfl:

The so called bedroom tax and shared acc rate are two different things.

Someone under 35 gets the shared rate, as yet it's not clear if that is for both private and LHA.

The Bedroom tax apples only to social housing, if you have a spare bedroom you get your allowance reduced by 14/25% no matter what your age.

You say no single person could under occupy a one bed property, they could though be living in a two bed property and willing to pay the extra to make up the rent, so in this case as well as finding the extra over the cost of living in a one bed place, they would also have to find the bedroom tax too.

PurpleGoldFish

Im going to give the housing benefit department a call in the morning and find out what's what. I'll pop back and update with what they've said.

Morlock

sniggings wrote: »

...in this case as well as finding the extra over the cost of living in a one bed place, they would also have to find the bedroom tax too.

Cost is not really relevant as (currently) social housing rent costs are below LHA rates.

Bedroom tax for under-occupied properties could increase the overall housing benefit bill, as those living in social housing move to smaller, but more costly properties in the private sector in order to avoid the tax.

Morlock

PurpleGoldFish wrote: »

My friend (it really is my friend, not me this time) is thinking of moving house due to noise from neighbours.

Good luck with that. I think he is a bit naive thinking that the HA will relocate him because he considers that his neighbours are too noisy.