Housing Benefit

twstmoka

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twstmoka

I really would appreciate advice and it is URGENT. Many thanks

coffeelover65

Hi, I work in HB administration so will try and answer your questions, as always with these things, this is general advice only.

To summarise your situation to date:
1. You claimed JSA/HB on 27.07.12
2. You moved home on 27.08.12
2. Westminster wrote to you at your old address
3. Lambeth council now need to see proof of your rental payments and TA.

You need to appeal Westminster decision straight away, DO NOT do this by post or email, these things get lost, do it in person, and make sure you receive a receipt stamped, and note the persons name, date and time. Things go missing in huge organisations. Its more than likely the correspondence details of your new address wasn't entered into all the various systems hence letters going to the wrong address. If you have any threatening letters from your former LL regarding arrears take these in to prove the arrears, they may have a priority service.

Re the start date of your claim, for HB, the claim will start from the Monday after your JSA is awarded, so 30.07.12 is correct. What should happen is your claim will be paid to 27.08.12. Your claim at Lambeth will then start from 27.08.12 which is your date of entry.

Re your new address, the LA will need to see your tenancy agreement to confirm what you have stated on the application form, rental payment proof I cannot answer as all LA's have their own rules when it comes to the first payment of HB. You should contact them to find out why they need this.

Re your thoughts on the staff, we really are normal everyday people who are obliged by law to obtain proof in support of the claims. We see first hand how the system is flawed but have no interest in delaying claims, if we can pay it the day we receive it we will as it makes our lives easier. You have to remember HB is the most complex benefit in the UK, no other benefit is affected by changes to income, working hours, capital changes, household member income changes, household member status changes, number of children, number of other adults in the property, changes in rent, changes in service charges etc.

twstmoka

Thanks for your reply I agree you guys are all normal people. Unfortunately the system corrupts and institutionalizes you when working so often you respond with given and vetted government statements rather than listening and responding to the citizen. This is not necessarily a fault with the staff but more the nature of the way big organizations increasingly operate which is unfortunate.

Both housing offices have my tenancy agreement. I do hope that this situation resolves itself and I am paid what I am owed but from my experience I won't be suprized if I am paid a percentage or none of the benefit.

Whilst housing benefit may have the potential and often be the most complex benefit it also has the potential and can be a very easy and simple benefit when the applicant is receiving JSA and has no other income, assets etc.

The safety net of the system is being destroyed by the conservatives and what exists so far isn't very much of a safety net when in effect it takes three months to pay a citizen and when it does make errors or doesn't enter data properly it lies the blame soley with the claimant who has little power or money for recourse other than to go through the channels the system itself created.

One final note all of this media sensationalizm of benefit fraud. It isn't as widespread it's propaganda to allow the government to slowly destroy the welfare system our National Insurance pays for and to implement schemes such as workfare which aren't shy from a contemporary form of slavery. This is the problem it isn't of course the individuals that have created this but there is no accountability except for the claimant. You guys are all easily replacable and as with most british people terrified of losing ones job and being placed in the trap of the welfare state.

twstmoka

I calculate I am owed nearly one thousand three hundred pounds. As my rent is of course higher than the LHA (which in itself is monstrous) moving from Westminster to Lambeth led to a reduction of forty pounds in Housing allowance. Yet I have yet to see what my rate is.

krisskross

twstmoka wrote: »

Thanks for your reply I agree you guys are all normal people. Unfortunately the system corrupts and institutionalizes you when working so often you respond with given and vetted government statements rather than listening and responding to the citizen.

Do you think there should be different rules for certain people then?

Have you checked to see how much LHA will be paid to you in Lambeth? Maybe as you were moving it should have been to a cheaper area.

nannytone_2

for someone that is asking for help, you are doing a really good job of rubbing people up the wrong way.

just to add....
housing benefit is nit administered by 'the government'.
it is local authorities that deal with it, so forget all your conspiracy theories, and just accept that , with the large amount of claimants and every dwindling numbers of staff, mistakes and delays are inevitable.