Service Charge - ESA Claim

mills_steven

Am helping a friend who is claiming (income-based) Employment and Support Allowance.

They live in a flat and have a service charge that they pay each month. They were told that they would be able to claim for this provided they sent in supporting evidence/documentation.
This info was sent and they have now been asked for a breakdown of the service charge as apparently not everything is eligible, despite all service charge fees being for communal issues such as gardening, building insurance, cleaning of common areas etc.

Does anyone have any understanding as to what elements of the service charge can be claimed for, and which are ineligible?

I've looked online but not found a definitive answer to this.

MidnightHour

This may help http://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/servicecharges.aspx

It should say on her rent agreement what the service charges are for, if not she needs to get clarification from landlord to give to housing benefit office.

Poppie68

You mention IR ESA, i take it your friend does also claim housing benefit..also you mention 'they' is this a partner? are they employed or are they included on the ESA claim?

mills_steven

Poppie68 wrote: »

I take it your friend does also claim housing benefit..also you mention 'they' is this a partner? are they employed or are they included on the ESA claim?

Not sure about housing benefit, will ask
No, not a partner
Not employed

tomtontom

Poppie68 wrote: »

You mention IR ESA, i take it your friend does also claim housing benefit..also you mention 'they' is this a partner? are they employed or are they included on the ESA claim?

Service charges are usually paid by the DWP housing costs/ mortgage interest team, not the local authority housing benefit teams.

OP the exclusions primarily cover support services, such as a support worker or even meals. The elements you describe would be covered.

mills_steven

Many thanks for all your help