Housing Benefit

bury_2

Hi,

A friend of mine is curently renting a flat ( i bed) at 525 per month. The landlord wants to put it up to 550 per month. I went to entiltledto and it said that she waould be entilted to around 220 per year housing benefit on the 550 per month but not on the 525. She earns 18,000 per year.

Does anyone have any experience if the figures are correct as I know that the site isn't always right. Money is very tight at the moment and she has to decide weather to move or not.

Thanks

babyboo42

she really needs to contact the local authority as they sometimes/usually 'cap' the amount of rent they will pay irrespective of what is being charged.it varies from area to area but even if she is entitled in principle if the local authority cap it then they won't pay. a friend of mine pays £550 pcm rent and gets full HB but only of £425 which is the max his local authority think should be charged for a flat for him. government gives local authorities powers to cap what they pay out but no powers to enforce rent reductions.

bury_2

That's what i thought.

I was also wondeing on the 18k?. I know it says on entitled to but in real life I can imagine that you what have to fill out a 50 page booklet to then be told you earn to much!.

msmicawber

Hi Bury,

It depends on your friend's circumstances (if she's disabled or ill or has dependants or whatever), but I earn £17,500 and am a lone parent paying £735 per month rent and I'm not entitled to much beyond the 25% Council Tax reduction for single adult occupancy and don't bother to claim the few quid a week HB because it's so stressful and intrusive.

Morglin

These will help:


http://www.entitledto.co.uk/

http://england.shelter.org.uk/advice/advice-120.cfm?r=gaw&WT.srch=1&frmAlias=/housingbenefit/

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/index.htm?cids=Google_PPC&cre=Money&gclid=CIDgzYSDs4sCFQfllAodomFZyQ

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/lifeevent/benefits/housing_benefit.asp

Lin

dmg24

I would also be surprised that she was entitled to anything on £18000, but as msmicawber says, it really does depend on individual circumstances.

babyboo42 has a good point too, when I claimed last year my eligible amount was capped at £280 a month! x