Pension and Housing Benefit

BillNBob

My sister has just stopped work and her only income is a state pension, hubby claims ESA.

They live in a private rented house and have until now paid full rent, council tax etc

Will housing benefit cover the rent because she is a pensioner?

Housing_Benefit_Officer

If they haven't claimed in the past year then they will get 13 weeks protection where the full rent is used in the calculation of Housing Benefit.

After 13 weeks the whatever the Local Housing Rate for a one bedroom property will be used in the calculation of benefit.

It would depend whatever their combined income and savings are if they would get maximum possible help.

BillNBob

Thanks for the reply. The Local Housing rate for 1 bed is only half what their rent is, they dont have savings, only pension and ESA, her hubby claims DLA which is disregarded anyway.
She doesnt know yet whether she gets pension credit which I think she will but surely they wouldnt be expected to move!
I never know why things need to get to a critical level before anything is answered, she isnt getting the info she needs from one place and thats why its in such a muddle as to what they will eventually get. Its piece of mind really!

dodger1

BillNBob wrote: »

Thanks for the reply. The Local Housing rate for 1 bed is only half what their rent is, they dont have savings, only pension and ESA, her hubby claims DLA which is disregarded anyway.
She doesnt know yet whether she gets pension credit which I think she will but surely they wouldnt be expected to move!
I never know why things need to get to a critical level before anything is answered, she isnt getting the info she needs from one place and thats why its in such a muddle as to what they will eventually get. Its piece of mind really!

If they can't afford the difference between the rent they pay and the local housing rate then yes they will have to move to a cheaper property.

gayleanne

I am afraid that due to the new rules there only going to get the rate for one bedroom, they may be able to apply for a discretionary housing benefit, but these are only awarded for a short time. After that they have to make up the difference.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

gayleanne wrote: »

I am afraid that due to the new rules there only going to get the rate for one bedroom, they may be able to apply for a discretionary housing benefit, but these are only awarded for a short time. After that they have to make up the difference.

Pensioners in social housing are exempt from the 'bedroom tax'. However people renting in the private sector will only have a maximum eligible rent paid equivalent to the 1 bedroom rate of Local Housing Allowance.

If they haven't claimed HB in the past year and could previously afford the rent then they should get 13 weeks protection where the full rent figure would be used before the LHA 1 bedroom restriction is applied - that would give them 3 months to look for cheaper accommodation elsewhere.

BillNBob

dodger1 wrote: »

If they can't afford the difference between the rent they pay and the local housing rate then yes they will have to move to a cheaper property.

Im not quite sure why you enhanced part of my post in bold, it appears you are trying to make a point and inferring something.

Theres absolutely no need to do this.

Other posters have been helpful and useful, so maybe its best to ignore posts with hidden meanings.

Thanks for your input.

Poppie68

BillNBob wrote: »

Im not quite sure why you enhanced part of my post in bold, it appears you are trying to make a point and inferring something.

Theres absolutely no need to do this.

Other posters have been helpful and useful, so maybe its best to ignore posts with hidden meanings.

Thanks for your input.

There is no hidden meaning in enhancing part of someones post, it just means this is the part of your post they are replying to.

McKneff

Excellent answer Poppie68

dodger1

dodger1 wrote: »

If they can't afford the difference between the rent they pay and the local housing rate then yes they will have to move to a cheaper property.

BillNBob wrote: »

Im not quite sure why you enhanced part of my post in bold, it appears you are trying to make a point and inferring something.

Theres absolutely no need to do this.

Other posters have been helpful and useful, so maybe its best to ignore posts with hidden meanings.

Thanks for your input.

As others have said there is no hidden meaning. It's pretty standard to reply by bolding the part of the post that's being replied to.

Dovah_diva

BillNBob wrote: »

surely they wouldnt be expected to move!

Of course they will be expected to move if they can't afford the rent. Why wouldn't they?