Urgent help needed regarding housing benefit and possible homelessness

barnaby-bear

amcg100 wrote: »

I am not sure why you cannot receive a full housing benefit for your home ( although this will reduce soon if you have extra rooms ) - £595 seems a lot for a single person, I think about £350 - £400 would be acceptable.

Sounds about the right ball park round here: https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/content/local-housing-allowance-and-rates-we-pay

I imagine London much higher too...

BigAunty

amcg100 wrote: »

I am not sure why you cannot receive a full housing benefit for your home ( although this will reduce soon if you have extra rooms ) - £595 seems a lot for a single person, I think about £350 - £400 would be acceptable.

A single person under the age of 35 is only entitled to a Local Housing Allowance rate the equivalent of the cheapest third of local market rents. He's in a 1 bedroom flat where the rent is around twice the cost of his housing benefit.

HB across the country changes according to the area - it is literally a postcode lottery because HB is calculated on what rents are being charged in the local area. It's not about what is acceptable or seems right for a single person - it will depend on where they live and in the case of a single person, their age. In some areas, there will be single people receiving up to £250 a week housing benefit...

Most people who suffer a reduction in HB or income would find a cheaper property as fast as they can to avoid running up rent arrears but for numerous reasons, the OP has not been able to. Unfortunately, a local council will only help some people facing homelessness which means certain groups are less likely or less able to solve their own problems, and this actually extends their homelessness crisis because they depend on the council to resolve it for them, and councils aren't always particularly speedy.

sandraroffey

in my area (west sussex), the rate for a one bedroom allowance ie. single person, is £63 a week.

debrag

In Bromley the shared rate is £78.50 a week the 1 bed rate is £150 a week. Can get many 1 beds for that in Bromley.

tarpond

Pippin 12 says:

'I was threatened with homelessness as I also received an eviction notice. However the Local authority rehoused me into a council flat within two weeks. I am single and have no dependents but as I have diagnosed mental health problems I was deemed in priority need. I know I was very lucky, but I wouldn't assume the council can't or won't help. You having serious mental health problems might mean you qualify as priority need.'


I assume the council can't or won't help. I hope that I am lucky as you, that Clinical Psychologist diagnosed me with complex PTSD and this combined with the Homelessness 31 March 2013 will prompt help to find a new home.

Willing2Learn

Hi tarpond,

I've just replied to your PM. Please could you let me know that you received it okay as the system is not telling me that replies are sent (MSE tech problem I think)

tarpond

Thanks you have helped me so much with the post to know that I am not alone.