Need some advice

_arc89

Hi all,

New to the forum. I'm just seeking a little bit of advice and I was hoping that someone on here may be able to help. Here is my situation:

Out of work since first week of January 2013 due to ill health. I'm 23, previously healthy and fairly recently graduated. I had been working up until this date. I've been diagnosed with severe depression and was under the care of my local mental health crisis team until recently, as a result, I've been unable to do anything about benefits etc.

Me and my girlfriend (who is a student) rent a flat in Nottingham where I was previously living and working - we are trying to get it let out to someone else but are liable for the rent etc until then. In the mean time, I'm staying with my Mum back in Peterborough (where I'm originally from) and have switched to a GP here.

I need financial assitance to pay for council tax, rent and general living but I have no idea where to even start. I'm certainly ill enough to be declared too sick to work (if I was well, I'd never have ended up with a crisis team) but I'm not sure what steps to take, how to approach the fact I'm currently staying elsewhere to the residence I need assistance with and who to call.

If anyone could shed some light on this situation I would be very grateful.

Thanks.

DomRavioli

First thing you would need to get is a fit note from your GP. If they issue one, you could claim ESA.

Unlikely to get council tax benefit as you live with your parent, or housing benefit as you have to be resident in the place you are claiming, but again not with a parent.

_arc89

I should add that I'm no longer employed so I'm unable to get SPP.

_arc89

DomRavioli wrote: »

First thing you would need to get is a fit note from your GP. If they issue one, you could claim ESA.

Unlikely to get council tax benefit as you live with your parent, or housing benefit as you have to be resident in the place you are claiming, but again not with a parent.

Ok thanks. I'm only staying with my mum, I don't actually live with her as it where. How would it be best to approach that particular issue? I'm completely screwed if I can't get any help with the flat in Nottingham.

McKneff

staying/living, doesnt make a lot of difference really as things are at the moment. You are classed as living with your mum, 'specially since you have changed doctors.

The only thing you can claim, if you get a fit note from the GP is ESA,
you should have claimed this straight away, to get your NI credits which matter when yu claim benefits in the future.

Do yu have any idea when you will go 'home' Is your gf covering the rent etc there.

rogerblack

McKneff wrote: »

if you get a fit note from the GP is ESA,
you should have claimed this straight away, to get your NI credits which matter when yu claim benefits in the future.

If the GP is aware of the condition, they may be willing to write a note backdated 3 months, which will entitle the claimant to 3 months backpay of ESA at the assessment rate.
(If they were not working, and ill throughout this period.

McKneff

Thanks rb, hope it helps sort out the OP.

Although he may get that backdated, will that help in claiming anything further ie income support, council tax help.

OP, are you claiming your 25 percent discount anyway.

XXJULESXX

If OP is not living in the property that he is away from and needs help with, then he is unable to claim any CTB, HB or Single Person Discount there. If the property is unoccupied &unfurnished however, then he may be entitled to an exemption from council tax there. Staying with his mum would affect her SPD if she was otherwise living on her own though. It's not going to be easy, the best bet is to try and find a new tenant to take over the property. good luck x

princessdon

XXJULESXX wrote: »

If OP is not living in the property that he is away from and needs help with, then he is unable to claim any CTB, HB or Single Person Discount there. If the property is unoccupied &unfurnished however, then he may be entitled to an exemption from council tax there. Staying with his mum would affect her SPD if she was otherwise living on her own though. It's not going to be easy, the best bet is to try and find a new tenant to take over the property. good luck x

This, you can't claim for a house you don't live in. Have no up arrows on phone

McKneff

Is the girlfriend still living in the flat, on her own, she may be able to claim something.

pmlindyloo

If I have read this correctly then the OP is still liable for the rent on his flat if he is still on the tenancy agreement and this is the condition for claiming HB and CTB. Although he is living with his mum this appears to be a temporary stay until his contract ends.

Whether he will be able to claim HB is another matter as it would have to be a joint claim with his girlfiend and her student loans etc would be taken into account.

As regards the Council Tax, his girlfriend will be exempt as she is a student and therefore the liability will fall on the OP.

In my opinion the OP should put in a claim for ESA and HB and CT.

However, the ESA claim may be difficult because there may be a problem if he has to claim income based rather than contribution based if he is assessed as still living with his girlfriend.

Quite a complicated one so a trip to CAB for advice may be the best way forward.