Can I Get Financial Help For Rent?

Sinny91

Hey everybody,

Hopefully I've came to the correct place for housing advice..

I've just turned 21 and have been working at The Chamber Of Commerce as an Apprentice for the last 2 months, and I'm contracted to continue up until 18 months. I sort of regret taking the position now, as I'm not earning nearly enough to rent a place, or even a room for that matter.

I've been in and out of temporary work since leaving college, so I've missed out on some of the benefits permanent job seekers do, I've known many that have abused the system and have all got cosey little flats to them selves...

Anyway, I've also been back and forth from my moms and various friends sofas since the age of 14, and now the time has come, I really need somewhere permanent to stay, after I've completed this diploma at the Chamber, I want to undertake a Degree in International Studies.. in fact I'd over lap them if i could just rent a place.

I currently earn £606 pcm minus £45 each month for my bus pass, and £25 each month to pay for my fathers funeral. So basically I've got £536 pcm month to live off.

I've been on the .gov benefits site to see if I am entitled to any further financial help, and - computer said no. aha.

I'm only looking for a room to rent, but so far they all range from £300 - £400 pcm... What am I supposed to do?!?

I cant stress enough how desperate I am to just start settling down, achieving some goals, and start moving forward in life, but it seems there's no easy way to do this!

Can anyone tell me if I'm entitled to any help of some sort?

Thanks in advance!

Sinead.

G_M

You might do better posting on the benefits forum here.

Sinny91

Thanks, I just realised that might have been a good idea also!

BitterAndTwisted

Have you been onto your Local Authority's website and checked how much Local Housing Allowance you might be entitled to based on your monthly income?

As a person of 35 years or younger you would only be entitle to claim any LHA based on their shared-flat or house rate.

LHA is paid (fortnightly, I think) in arrears so you would need to have enough savings to cover a month's rent in advance and a security deposit for a rental in order to have something to claim against.

Have you investigated whether there are any homeowners looking to take in a lodger, as these sorts of arrangements can often be cheaper than a share and some don't insist on a full moth's rent as deposit either.

As an aside, can I ask why you are paying for your father's funeral? That expense should have be met from the deceased estate, not their surviving relatives.

Sinny91

Thanks for that, I only started my investigations last night, I did see something about housing allowance, I wasn't sure if it aapplied to me or not.. but I'll go open another tab now and have a looksey, thanks.

In regards to homeowners looking for a lodger, do you have any suggestions on websites I could find these? So far I've just been looking at student accommodation and flat shares.

I hate the benefit system, and I admittedly don't understand how half of it works! lol.

I'm paying for my fathers funeral as he passed away last November, (he lived in Liverpool, and we didn't see each other very often), so out-the-blue I had to try and arrange his funeral. I had to resort to extreme measures to cover the £600 deposit, which i'll be paying for very soon I assume (Wonga)... Getting the DWP to pay anything was complete nightmare! They refused to help with the deposit, and wanted the Final bill for final payments, before the Co-Op funeral services would allow me to have the bill!

Anyway, I eventually got my hands on the bill, filled in the correct paperwork, and sent it off, 4 weeks later the paperwork is returned demanding the NI numbers of family I don't know, and have never had any contact with, they all live abroad for a start.

I sent the form back with a note stating I couldn't obtain these in anyway shape or form, 3 weeks later they requested them again.

For the 2nd time I sent back the forms and a note stating they are asking something ridiculous from me, and sent the forms back.

3 weeks later I received my funeral payments paperwork back and they said that the 3 months time lapse and been exceeded and I was not entitled to the payment.

That process wouldn't have even been possible if it weren't for the fact November last year I was on Job seekers for 3 months.

People have advised me to appeal the time lapse decision, but only if I kept their letters for proof that I started the claim within the 3 months.. Alas, moving all over the place, I don't have a clue where these letters are.. so here I am, paying for the funeral of a man who should have been enjoying my 21st birthday with me last week, I wish I just opted into the state funeral, my own life has just took priority after all.

He didn't have any "estate" he actually killed him self after many years of battling severe back injures, we knew he had back problems, but not to the exstent he clearly did. The government we're paying him jobseekers.. When I arrived at his house in Liverpool, I found hundreds of letters from him to DWP and visa versa, also from his doctors and hospital. (he was dead for 2 months before we knew).. The sad fact is, he killed him self because he was forced to look for work, and rarely had any money to spend, the most he could send me that year was £10. I think he felt neglected. When I went through his post, one of the final letters I read was from the hospital, providing confirmation that he wasn't fit for work, as he could barely walk most days.

He kept a diary of everything up to his death. He was screwed by the system, which saddens me.

BitterAndTwisted

Have a look at the "entitledto" website and see if you would qualify for any Working-Tax credits on top of your wages.

As for finding a place as a lodger: often these come up as word-of-mouth so you could canvas every single person you know or come into contact with, whether family, friend or work-colleague but you could try the "spareroom" website as I think a fair number of home-owners may list their places on there.

Sinny91

I just went over to "entitledto" and I'm afraid it doesn't seem to offer much my way, there's no option to include that i work, and also no option to say I have no housing status

Loopgames

Condolences to you. Very young to have to go through all that. Sorry cannot help financially but hoping you find some help soon. Keep strong and determind.

Take care.

Dunroamin

Sinny91 wrote: »

I just went over to "entitledto" and I'm afraid it doesn't seem to offer much my way, there's no option to include that i work, and also no option to say I have no housing status

You must have missed the section which asks for your income but you need to enter the appropriate LHA shared accommodation rate for your area as if you were already paying this amount in rent.

19lottie82

Hi OP - Can you get a second job a couple of nights a week, bar work or waitressing?

pmlindyloo

As B&T said you may be eligible for some help with your rent and council tax.

Your best bet is to find a room somewhere as you will only be entitled to the shared accommodation rate (you can look that up on your local council website under local housing allowance)

As you are 'sofa hopping' and not 'liable' for any rent at the moment you are technically homeless.

So, you need to go to your local housing department (google for it) and register as homeless.

As a single 'working male' you would not be a high priority to be housed but they should give you help and advice.

Depending on where you live there may be some kind of voluntary organisation that can help you.

If there is nothing the council can do then try to be as proactive as possible by putting up notices, using gumtree, asking fellow apprentices etc etc.

Is there any way you could do an evening job - bar work or something to 'up your income'?