How long does it take to receive Housing Benefit?

m1234w

Hi

I put a claim in for housing benefit on the 15th August. That was 8 weeks and 4 days ago and every time I ring the HB people they tell me they have my claim but there is a backlog and they cannot give me a timescale of when it will be processed.

I have been through 2 rent payment days already and have my next in 2 weeks time.

I do not have the money to pay the landlord.

Please help

enabledebra

If they have all the information they need to process your claim you can request a 'payment on account' (in writing so they can't just ignore it) If they say they have never heard of a payment on account here's some links:

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/technical-guidance/rr2-a-guide-to-housing-benefit/how-your-benefit-is-paid/

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/housing_benefit_and_local_housing_allowance/housing_benefit_problems_delays_and_appeals/housing_benefit_delays#3

m1234w

Thanks for that.

Yes they have all the information. They confirmed this to me a month ago. They did not mention this payment on account at all to me just kept telling me there is a backlog and no timeframe for it to be processed even after I told them there is a chance I will be threatened with eviction.

I will ring them first thing Monday morning.

coffeelover65

The payment on account is a red herring in all honesty as its the backlog of work which is causing the delay. In order to make such a payment your claim needs to be setup in the same way as it would be for a normal assessment, this is true of the 3 largest HB processing packages used throughout the UK.

Have you asked the council if they can prioritise your claim due to not having the money to make the next rental payment? Every council I've worked at has some sort of priority scheme for cases like this. Usually its only used when eviction/court action is applied for, but if you can take proof such as bank statements / receipts showing the payments you've already made and advise when the next payment is due they can hopefully push your claim to the front of the queue.

kizzie_nikita

Mine also had a backlog and took 16 weeks to be completed, which REALLY annoyed me. I asked for a payment on account but got told they didn't do it many times, so all i could do was wait, and ring, ring, ring them.

I also asked for mine to be prioritised, as in the end i had to loan 3 months worth of rent, and also got in huge problems with CT, but they told me that they do not prioritise claims and you have to 'wait in your place in the que as there are many in the same situation as you'