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

paulofessex

OP in order to prevent moving etc, could you not approach some of the temping agencies around even if its doing packing jobs etc, this way you should certainly earn more than JSA, plus if you are on a low income you may still get some rent and council tax benefit. May help you until you find a more full time job

dawnie1972

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

I did ask this when I spoke to them today and she said the max I would get would be the Local Housing Association equivalent.

dawnie1972

paulofessex wrote: »

OP in order to prevent moving etc, could you not approach some of the temping agencies around even if its doing packing jobs etc, this way you should certainly earn more than JSA, plus if you are on a low income you may still get some rent and council tax benefit. May help you until you find a more full time job

Am registered with all the agencies

Caz3121

pmlindyloo wrote: »

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.

here is one example
https://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/benefits/localhousingallowance

Housing_Benefit_Officer

pmlindyloo wrote: »

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.

First £20 is disregarded then if you provide at least one meal per day then a further 50% is disregarded.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

dawnie1972 wrote: »

I did ask this when I spoke to them today and she said the max I would get would be the Local Housing Association equivalent.

If you could afford the rent when you moved in and had not claimed HB in the previous 52 weeks then the full rent figure is used for 13 weeks then reduced to the LHA rate.

fluffymovie

This is taken from the guidance manual (2005's was all I could find on my phone although the rules the same!)

13-week protection
7.10 The claimant can have their eligible rent based on their actual rent (without rent officer restrictions) for 13 weeks, if this is higher than the LHA that they would qualify for, if a Pathfinder authority is satisfied that the claimant
• was able to pay the rent on their accommodation when their tenancy began, and
• had not previously been entitled to HB in the 52 week period before their claim
7.11 This protection is based on the existing 13-week protection scheme in Regulation 11(9), and aims to help those who are ordinarily able to pay their rent but have fallen into difficulties, for example from losing a job. This provides time to either find another job or to find cheaper accommodation.
7.12 At the end of the 13 week period the claim is paid at the LHA rate for the HB Reg month when the claim would have transferred had there been no protection. 10(3C)(C), You will also need to take account of any other changes that would have 10(3G), affected the LHA rate during the time of protection, eg the birth of a child 10(3I)(e), 10(3J), that would change the size criteria but the protection remained, this would 11(9) mean that at the end of the protection period the LHA applicable on the date
of the child’s birth would be used. 7.13-7.19

dawnie1972

The only time i have claimed housing/unemployment benefit in the last 52 weeks was between 13 march - 5 apr, that isnt 13 weeks yet apparently i will not get the full amount. Also the discretionary payment will not cover the shortfall so will still have to pay some out of my unemployment benefit

Housing_Benefit_Officer

dawnie1972 wrote: »

The only time i have claimed housing/unemployment benefit in the last 52 weeks was between 13 march - 5 apr, that isnt 13 weeks yet apparently i will not get the full amount. Also the discretionary payment will not cover the shortfall so will still have to pay some out of my unemployment benefit

Did you claim HB for that period - if so you have claimed HB in the previous 52 weeks and won't qualify for the 13 weeks protection.

Your choices - DHP - but no guarantee and this is short term solution only.

Lodger to bring additional income.

Increase income.

Move to cheaper accommodation.

fluffymovie

I'm not sure I agree HBO - the rule is that they have recieved benefit, not claimed it. A DNQ claim would not count towards the 13 week protection