Shared room x3 or 3 bed house rate?

kizzie_nikita

Hi all,

Me & my two house-mates are moving house soon, as one is starting Uni in september.

All single and under 35.

Anyway, does anyone know, if we would get the shared room rate each for LHA, or 3 bed rate? All on Jsa income based, no other income.

I ask this, as currently, we are getting £425 a month, but when i checked the online calculatorto see how much the rate we would get would be it said £390, as i'm living here, i know it's not £390, i also know they haven't made a mistake as i've already asked about it.

So, as we're looking for a new place, i need to make sure it's in the price range, but as the moneys we get on housing benefit for this house, aren't the same as the online benefits calculator says we should be getting (we're getting more) i thought i'd ask here and see if anyone knew.

nannytone_2

as you are all financially independant, you would each claim the shared accomodation rate.

once your housemate starts university, they will no longer be entitled to any housing benefit, but will be exempt from council tax,
in april the council tax system changes, so you should be prepared to pay a percentage of the council tax bill

kizzie_nikita

What happends to the council tax system in april?

And thanks, that's exactly what i thought, but on the online calculator, it tells me that we'd be getting £390 a month, for the shared bedroom rate, but we actualy get £425.

There's a house i like, if we all got the shared rate, we could move in to it, but if we got the 3 bedroom rate, we'd be £100 down, so i can't risk it

Do you think if i rang the council up, they';d be able to tell me which rates we'd get?

nannytone_2

are you all on the same JSA claim or do you all claim individually?

so as individuals, you all have your own entitlement to housing benefit ( assuming you are all on the tenancy agreement)

from april, council tax benefit will change to council tax support.

each council has its own rules so you will have to contact them to find out how much you will be expected to contribute

MissMoneypenny

Yes, ring the council and ask.

You can also ask them how much council tax you will have to pay from April or look on their website.

nannytone_2

my ciuncil still havent made a decision regarding the council tax changes .....
or if they have, theyre keeping it to themselves!

sandraroffey

you can find your LHA on your local councils website.

and the council tax is that everyone except for pensioners, will have to pay SOME council tax, regardless of what benefit you are on.

miduck

sandraroffey wrote: »

and the council tax is that everyone except for pensioners, will have to pay SOME council tax, regardless of what benefit you are on.

That is not true - it is up to the LA to decide how they recoup their lost funds, and not all are charging those in receipt of means tested benefits. My LA is not, and nor is the next closest.

miduck

k_n, are you sure that the calculator did not give you a four weekly figure? £390 every four weeks equates to roughly £425 a month.

zzzLazyDaisy

kizzie_nikita wrote: »

Me & my two house-mates are moving house soon, as one is starting Uni in september..

Uni students cannot claim LHA.

They are also exempt from council tax, which means that if you rent a three bed house, liability for CT will fall to the two of you, instead of all three.

nannytone_2

ajthough some councils are exampting people on certain benefits, areas where there are large nimbers of people that are exempt automatically ( pensioners and students) seem to be finding it necessary to pass the costs in as they are taking a big hit