Housing Benefit appointment...advice please

Halladay34

Hi,
I am currently on JSA and have placed a claim for housing and council tax benefit and have been asked in for an appointment next week.

This is the first time I have placed a claim for Housing and council tax benefit so its all new to me...I've filled in a form and provided all the documents asked forehand, such as ID, tenancy agreement, proof of address, bank statement etc.

I am renting a room in a house, live in landlord. I have nothing to hide, but the whole process has proved a minefield and I'm anxious as if I don't get it the landlord has told me I'm as good as out so just wondering what to expect at the appointment. Will all the government cut backs affect me?

Thanks

BigAunty

What government cut backs are you talking about?

There haven't been changes to housing benefit legislation for a year or two, to my knowledge. There has been changes in England for council tax in the past year - groups that in the past had 100% discounts may now sometimes pay a percentage of it, it varies from council to council.

You can identify your potential local housing allowance (housing benefit in the private sector) by looking at the shared accommodation rate on your local council website for your area/postcode.

Also, see what your council says about council tax discount for JSA applicants.

Enter your information into the Turn2us online benefit calculator for a double check.

To verify your housing rights (which to be honest, are fairly weak as a live in lodger) and options, see the Shelter website.

19lottie82

If you're renting a room then the "cuts" shouldn't affect you too much, they generally only apply to those who are renting properties with "extra" bedrooms, or under 35s renting a flat, rather than a room.

BUT there will be a fixed rate for renting a room, for your particular area. Check what this is on your local councils website. This is the maximum that you will be entitled to. If your rent is more, you will need to make it up yourself.

Also, be aware that chances are, your application will take a while to process, I'm sure I heard that the average time from application to first payment is six weeks, but it's sometimes longer.

gay_guy

19lottie82 wrote: »

If you're renting a room then the "cuts" shouldn't affect you too much, they generally only apply to those who are renting properties with "extra" bedrooms, or under 35s renting a flat, rather than a room.

BUT there will be a fixed rate for renting a room, for your particular area. Check what this is on your local councils website. This is the maximum that you will be entitled to. If your rent is more, you will need to make it up yourself.

Also, be aware that chances are, your application will take a while to process, I'm sure I heard that the average time from application to first payment is six weeks, but it's sometimes longer.

Sorry you're wrong as it don't affect under 35s as I am 27 and I am in a 1 bedroom flat in a housing association called Calico Housing in Burnley, Lancashire, North West.

I get the full housing benefit and I am also on Jobseekers and I don't pay rent at all, so your information for under 35s is wrong.

jacques_chirac

gay_guy wrote: »

Sorry you're wrong as it don't affect under 35s as I am 27 and I am in a 1 bedroom flat in a housing association called Calico Housing in Burnley, Lancashire, North West.

I get the full housing benefit and I am also on Jobseekers and I don't pay rent at all, so your information for under 35s is wrong.

The OP is not in social housing, in which case 19lottie82's information is correct.

RAS

gay_guy wrote: »

Sorry you're wrong as it don't affect under 35s as I am 27 and I am in a 1 bedroom flat in a housing association called Calico Housing in Burnley, Lancashire, North West.

I get the full housing benefit and I am also on Jobseekers and I don't pay rent at all, so your information for under 35s is wrong.

You are in social housing; the OP is in private rented accomodation.

People under 35 in private rented accomodation can only claim the Local Housing Allowance for a room in a shared house. They can of course rent a studio or one room flat, but they only get the maximum shared room rate and have to make up the difference.

Just be very gald you are not in their situation.

BigAunty

gay_guy wrote: »

Sorry you're wrong as it don't affect under 35s as I am 27 and I am in a 1 bedroom flat in a housing association called Calico Housing in Burnley, Lancashire, North West.

I get the full housing benefit and I am also on Jobseekers and I don't pay rent at all, so your information for under 35s is wrong.

Because the OP is in private accommodation, the advice given applies to private accommodation and is accurate for their type of tenancy. Also, because they are in shared accommodation, they will only ever get the shared rate whatever their age.

Social housing doesn't have an age bar when it comes to a single person getting the full rate of HB in a self contained 1 bedroom property rather than sharing. Social housing doesn't offer shared housing, anyway.

What the issue is with social housing tenants and HB is that they can get a reduced sum of HB if their property is too big for their needs. Therefore, if you were in a 2 bedroom social housing property, for example, you'd face the loss of 15% of your housing benefit while in a 3 bedroom property and if only you lived there, you'd face the loss of 25% of your HB for having too much room (known as the 'bedroom tax' or 'spare room subsidy', depending on your politics).

gay_guy

RAS wrote: »

You are in social housing; the OP is in private rented accomodation.

People under 35 in private rented accomodation can only claim the Local Housing Allowance for a room in a shared house. They can of course rent a studio or one room flat, but they only get the maximum shared room rate and have to make up the difference.

Just be very gald you are not in their situation.

Well maybe the op could have put private landlord in her first post then to stop confusing people.

jacques_chirac

gay_guy wrote: »

Well maybe the op could have put private landlord in her first post then to stop confusing people.

The OP stated they live their landlord, there is nothing to be confused about.

BigAunty

jacques_chirac wrote: »

The OP stated they live their landlord, there is nothing to be confused about.

To be honest, the OP could have a live in landlord who is a social housing tenant with permission to have a lodger.

But in either case, private or social housing, the lodger is only entitled to a shared rate of HB because they are in shared accommodation, regardless of age.

At the moment, it looks like the lodger potentially faces homelessness - not many landlords want a live in lodger on benefits staying at home all day anyway. The OP will find it hard to find a new landlord, live-in or live-out, who will accept a HB claimant. The Shelter website will at least show them their rights and options, plus they have a section on how to prevent/deal with homelessness.

gay_guy

jacques_chirac wrote: »

The OP stated they live their landlord, there is nothing to be confused about.

But where does it state private? no where, that is where I was confused about.