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Housing benefit claim timescales...

each_peach_pear_plum
Posts: 109 Forumite
After my partner losing his job, we have made a claim for housing benefit. We went to our local council offices with everything they requested a week last Friday (8th)... My question is, how long does a claim take to process and the money come through? Our rent is due on 1st...
Thanks
eppp
Thanks
eppp
VSP: #64
0
Comments
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it can vary massively. it all depends on how busy/efficient your local housing benefit department are.
i made a claim 18 months ago and it was all sorted and in payment in less than a week. but it can take months to sort out.
just keep phoning them and chasing it up0 -
I think it varies by councils, recently there have been posts with claims taking under a fortnight but similarly people still waiting after 15 weeks.
I would start getting a plan B together just in case0 -
Here it takes 4 months to sort a claim for housing benefit out.0
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Bearing in mind your HB is likely to be paid 4 weekly in arrears, the Council have this time before you would be due anything anyway. Although it's nice to know it's all been sorted asap I guess.
If you call your local council they should be able to give you the time scales that they are currently working to.
In the event that you're in an area with a large backlog, you can request a 'payment on account' from them. This should be paid as long as you can show need, and your claim is likely to be successful.0 -
Is it social housing or private rental? Whichever one it is - you need to tell your landlord as soon as you can about the possibility of this months rent being late - it can take 8 weeks or more. Depends on the backlog of cases going through your councils housing benefit dept.
Is there anyone who could lend you this money? I assume you do not work either - perhaps it is time to both go out to work. Also whatever else you do - do not go and take out any payday loans as you will never be able to pay them back.0 -
Horseunderwater wrote: »Is it social housing or private rental? Whichever one it is - you need to tell your landlord as soon as you can about the possibility of this months rent being late - it can take 8 weeks or more. Depends on the backlog of cases going through your councils housing benefit dept.
Is there anyone who could lend you this money? I assume you do not work either - perhaps it is time to both go out to work. Also whatever else you do - do not go and take out any payday loans as you will never be able to pay them back.
Its a private rental, and our LL is aware of the situation.... and you assume wrong! I am currently working full time, as I always have done, and this is our first ever claim for any benefit (other than CB)
We do not intend to claim any longer than we have to!!
epppVSP: #640
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