Housing Benefit won't cover rent - what do i do

dawnie1972

Lost my job last week, registered for jobseekers allowance (which I believe to be about £70/week). Have just spoken to the council re applying for Housing Benefit and been told the maximum I will be awarded is £103.85/week (based on local housing association 1 bed accommodation for single person). My rent is £630 per month which means I will have to find another £42 a week out of my jobseekers allowance as well as trying to pay my bills etc. I'm gonna lose my house as I won't be able to afford it - what can I do?

shop-to-drop

Take in a lodger, do everything you can to find a job or jobs, ask family to help you temporarily.

mummyroysof3

Is this because you have a house quite big for a single person? Would it be better to move to a smaller property?

paulineb_2

Are you in a 1 bedroom flat at the moment?

pmlindyloo

shop-to-drop wrote: »

Take in a lodger, do everything you can to find a job or jobs, ask family to help you temporarily.

Be wary of taking in a lodger as most of the income would be taken into account as income and you would lose JSA payment.

You could apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment if you are unable to find the rent in any other way and you would become homeless because of rent arrears.

pmlindyloo

mummyroysof3 wrote: »

Is this because you have a house quite big for a single person? Would it be better to move to a smaller property?

Moving to a smaller property (if relevant) is a good idea but often isn't possible if you are in a fixed term tenancy.

dawnie1972

shop-to-drop wrote: »

Take in a lodger, do everything you can to find a job or jobs, ask family to help you temporarily.

I am not allowed to take in a lodger as is against my tenancy contract conditions. Am doing everything I can to find a job.

dawnie1972

mummyroysof3 wrote: »

Is this because you have a house quite big for a single person? Would it be better to move to a smaller property?

FYI I have a 2 bedroom house and my options were limited as I had to find a property that would allow a tenant with 3 dogs (I have 2 dogs now)

dawnie1972

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Moving to a smaller property (if relevant) is a good idea but often isn't possible if you are in a fixed term tenancy.

Am looking for a smaller house but options are limited as cannot get one via a letting agent as I do not have a job now.

Caz3121

If you were paying the full rent yourself for the last 12 months they should cover the full rent for a period of 13 weeks which should give you time to get something sorted

pmlindyloo

Caz3121 wrote: »

If you were paying the full rent yourself for the last 12 months they should cover the full rent for a period of 13 weeks which should give you time to get something sorted

Hi

Would you be very kind and post a link for this?

I know this was the case but couldn't find any mention when I looked recently so wondered if this 'rule' had changed.