Housing Benefit Changes means underoccupation??

*LittleStar*

Is there anything I can do? I was allocated a 3 bed Council House when I was pregnant and had 1 child over 9 years ago, I still live in the property and have 2 boys and have just had a letter to say I will have to pay 14% of my housing costs even though i officially have more children than when the council gave me the property! There is no way I can afford the impact on my income but I desperately need 3 bedrooms I have 1 child with bad skin probs who has to have skin wraps/cremes at night, (he gets lowest level Care DLA) then I have a 3 and half year old who already has a special educational needs co-ordinator because of his problems he had to leave playgroup as they said the setting was unsuitable and now have to 'top up' his early years funding by £100 per mnt. It is suspected he has ADHD and or also a mild form of autism. He doesnt sleep at regular times and when they had to share a room for a week when i was redecorating he continuously disturbed his big brothers (already restless nights sleep cos of his skin condition) by jumping on his bed and even biting and scratching.
I dont understand how when the council allocated me the house themselves with less people living there how they can now say it is 'underoccupied' when there is now 2 children and myself rather than just myself and 1 child when i was given the property.
Anyone have any advice of what I can do? Would be greatful for any help or suggestions :j

Dunroamin

The rules have changed - it was allowed before, now you have to pay for extra bedrooms.

princessdon

It's simple

Apply for a discretionary payment and hope they give it, pay until your eldest is old enough for his own room, or move to private.

There are your choices if you cannot work.

Heycock

Under the new allocation rules for social housing which are coming into line with the rules that have applied for some time in the private sector, you will only get benefit toward 2 bedrooms. that is all you are now entitled to given the boys' ages. They are assumed to share.
The rules specifically say no allowance for medical needs unless you have an overnight carer coming in.
Lots of us are in the same boat. I'm carer for my wife who has Dementia....most nights I have to sleep in the spare room. No other option but I still only get benefit based on us sharing 1 bed accommodation.
There was talk 18 months ago of Ian Duncan-Smith looking at this specific unfairness but he seems to have kicked it into the long grass.
If it's any consolation, the shortfall in my case and many others in the private sector is alot more than your 14%.
Sorry but there's not a great deal that can be done and contrary to what many think, Labour won't be reversing this policy if they win in 2015.
As Princess says there is discretionary funding but it is for only 1 year and I can't see many councils continuing to give it in the next few years to be honest. Anything they don't have to pay, they won't, particularly as they've got to find ways of lessening the impact of this year's CTB changes on the vulnerable. I believe they'll rob Peter to pay Paul.

*LittleStar*

princessdon wrote: »

It's simple

Apply for a discretionary payment and hope they give it, pay until your eldest is old enough for his own room, or move to private.

There are your choices if you cannot work.

Is that through my Local Council?
Will letters of support from Social workers/Health Visitors etc. be considered when making there desicions?

barnaby-bear

*LittleStar* wrote: »

Is there anything I can do? I was allocated a 3 bed Council House when I was pregnant and had 1 child over 9 years ago, I still live in the property and have 2 boys and have just had a letter to say I will have to pay 14% of my housing costs even though i officially have more children than when the council gave me the property! There is no way I can afford the impact on my income but I desperately need 3 bedrooms I have 1 child with bad skin probs who has to have skin wraps/cremes at night, (he gets lowest level Care DLA) then I have a 3 and half year old who already has a special educational needs co-ordinator because of his problems he had to leave playgroup as they said the setting was unsuitable and now have to 'top up' his early years funding by £100 per mnt. It is suspected he has ADHD and or also a mild form of autism. He doesnt sleep at regular times and when they had to share a room for a week when i was redecorating he continuously disturbed his big brothers (already restless nights sleep cos of his skin condition) by jumping on his bed and even biting and scratching.
I dont understand how when the council allocated me the house themselves with less people living there how they can now say it is 'underoccupied' when there is now 2 children and myself rather than just myself and 1 child when i was given the property.
Anyone have any advice of what I can do? Would be greatful for any help or suggestions :j

Could the boys' father/fathers contribute the small top-up since it's for his/their kids welfare?
The DFW board could help you review your budget to find savings to afford the changes, cut your other bills.

princessdon

I know it sounds harsh but it is the way it is.

Do you claim DLA for your youngest?

If not and he has additional care needs due to his behavioural disabilities then look at this. It will pay far more than your shortfall. If you already get this, then use some to compensate for him needing his own room.

princessdon

*LittleStar* wrote: »

Is that through my Local Council?
Will letters of support from Social workers/Health Visitors etc. be considered when making there desicions?

I am not sure how they allocate Discretionary payments - but as you only need for such a short time it's worth trying. Others may know more. Lighting Up the Chalice and others know far more than I do.

BigAunty

I am not aware of any exemptions to this reduction in HB for unoccupied rooms in the social housing sector, other for those of pension credit/pension age or a disabled person who needs a non-resident overnight carer, for example.

Many benefit changes are made without warning and apply to all current claimants, not just new claims, it's just that housing benefit in the social housing sector has not really been tinkered with since its inception so is a shock from that perspective - private tenants have never necessarily had full HB, have always had limits, especially when they underoccupy whereas social housing tenants have been protected for decades.

Look into a mutual exchange and get a 2 bed property with a dining room or large living room you can convert into a bedroom for yourself so the boys can have their own ones?

Does the father(s) of the children pay any child maintenance which could offset this extra expense?

Can you work part-time? Lone parents only need to work 16 hours per week to qualify for working tax credit.

Can you download the MSE budget planner and work through the site to identify how to slash living costs?

How much is the shortfall each week? As a lone parent with 2 kids, one with low rate DLA, your income is about £240 per week?

Are you in England? If so, are you aware of the changes that may take place to council tax discounts in your area?

Heycock

Princessdon...that's essentially how I'm making up the difference in our case. It's not what DLA was designed for but I suppose you could rationalise it by saying that using it to pay for the extra bedroom is part of the extra care required.
That's how i justify it in our case anyway...I know how DLA is used in practise is a touchy subject with some.

nannytone_2

as they are both boys. the will be expected to share until the eldest is 16, so not such a shirt time.

discretionary housing oayments only last for about 6 months