Scared to claim - don't want flatmates or landlord to find out

Morglin

confuseddaughter wrote: »

Unfortunately there are many that will not apply for benefits for one reason or another. Be it perceived shame, pride or simple ignorance. There are many that are living in abject poverty because they do not claim what they are rightfully entitled to. Hence the reason why Mr Osbourne rubs his little hands together every month when the unclaimed money is given back to him to spend on a 'more worthy cause'. There are literally millions every year that go back to the government's bank.
The problem as I see it is that claiming a benefit today is seen as something 'dirty' and 'shameful'. You won't find the government putting out adverts to persuade people to claim what is due to them.
Some just simply slip into poverty and nobody cares as long as they do it quietly and out of the public gaze.
However there are those that will take what they can when they can however they can. Who is right, who is wrong?


This government's legacy, if it has one, is that they have turned the safety net into the 'poor house' - and nobody wanted to go there in the past, they would sooner starve.

Nobody, except for perhaps Daily Mail readers and trolls, sees or think claiming of entitlements, as being either shameful or dirty. :doh:

Lin :wall:

confuseddaughter_2

Morglin wrote: »

For ESA, you only need give details of yourself and what your illness is.

Assessments are taking ages, at the moment, and you will be paid the assessment rate, while you wait, subject to sending in fit notes.

Hounding Benefit do not notify your landlord, and you don't have to, legally, any more, but they will need to see your tenancy agreement.

Neither departments are allowed yo discuss your case with your flat mates, or your landlord.

So, go ahead and claim.

If you are not cure about the claim form, then make an appointment at the CAB, or google up 'welfare rights' for your area.

Send as much medical evidence back with the form as you can.

Lin

I would first of all check that your tenancy agreement doesn't have a clause that states that you must tell your landlord if you are claiming housing benefit. Some landlords may well have problems with their insurer if they are renting a property to someone that claims this benefit. In fact some insurance policies forbid such tenants.
Does your landlord have the right type of mortgage? Maybe his lender would object.


Just check it out first, and it wouldn't be the first time that a council have 'accidentally' contacted a landlord about a claim.

confuseddaughter_2

Morglin wrote: »

Nobody, except for perhaps Daily Mail readers and trolls, sees or think claiming of entitlements, as being either shameful or dirty. :doh:

Lin :wall:

Thankyou but you are then living in a make believe world. There is a general acceptance now across Britain that benefit claimants should be stigmatised. You only have to watch the numerous TV programmes that portray them as lazy scroungers. It doesn't seem to matter anymore whether people are entitled, just saying that you are 'entitled' is enough to start off another debate.
Maybe you live in one of those areas where benefit claimants are seen as the norm and just part of everyday life. I live in an area where no one would even dare mention that they are claiming anything. If they are, they keep very quiet about it. Some I know that actually do, 'front' their lifestyle as still actually working when they are not.

ARCOrbit

confuseddaughter wrote: »

I would first of all check that your tenancy agreement doesn't have a clause that states that you must tell your landlord if you are claiming housing benefit. Some landlords may well have problems with their insurer if they are renting a property to someone that claims this benefit. In fact some insurance policies forbid such tenants.
Does your landlord have the right type of mortgage? Maybe his lender would object.


Just check it out first, and it wouldn't be the first time that a council have 'accidentally' contacted a landlord about a claim.

BIB. This is exactly what I'm worrying about! I don't want to be paranoid but I don't know if I can trust the council. Even if they're not meant to contact the landlord without my permission, an apology after the event won't help me. I don't want to end up homeless on top of everything else!

Maybe my landlord will be okay about me claiming benefits but I don't want to take any risks. I'm actually hoping my health will be improved soon enough that I don't have to claim any housing benefits. I have a very small amount of savings left (a few thousand) so if I get the ESA for a month or so, I should just about be able to pay the rent. I can't go out due to my health so I'm not spending money elsewhere!

The landlord owns the property outright so there isn't a mortgage issue. I guess the only problem would be if he wasn't declaring rent to the taxman (hopefully this is just me over-worrying again!).

Morglin

From experience, I seriously would ignore the above poster.

Other advice you have been given is correct.

They do not divulge information to unauthorised third parties, and you could sue them, if they did.

Regardless of any clauses, the government have stated that there is no legal obligation for a tenant to inform a landlord about finances or HB.

Lin

ARCOrbit

Morglin wrote: »

From experience, I seriously would ignore the above poster.

Other advice you have been given is correct.

They do not divulge information to unauthorised third parties, and you could sue them, if they did.

Regardless of any clauses, the government have stated that there is no legal obligation for a tenant to inform a landlord about finances or HB.

Lin

Thank you. It's good to have some reassurance and advice. I'm just stressing so much about the health issues and so extra worry about money and/or benefits is the last thing I need.

It doesn't help that it's been a frustratingly slow process to get help for my health problems. I've had to really battle to get the doctors (both GP and hospital consultants) to take me seriously. And they initially tried to claim it was mental health and that my condition wasn't real but imagined. It has finally been diagnosed and I can't wait for treatment to start working!

Actually, that wouldn't affect my benefit claim would it? The doctors do now acknowledge that my health condition is real, but I don't know if they've totally discounted mental health (in addition). I think they were suggesting the condition and it's impact were causing depression. I don't think I am depressed (well, no more than you'd expect under the circumstances). But surely an ESA claim wouldn't be turned down for underplaying illness? That would just mean I was worse than I claimed?

Again, sorry for panicking. I know I should stop worrying. It should only be a short period of claiming benefits so it's silly to worry.

Morglin

You really need to calm down lol - we have all been where you are at, but you need to just deal with it, step by step.

Claim ESA, get your fit notes from the doctor, and take it step by step.

It is all confidential, other than things like contacting your medics, if they need to.

Be truthful with how your illness affects you, and how it stops you working. Back it up where you can, and send attached sheets of paper, giving fuller details if you need to give them more info.

Send everything by recorded or special delivery, and realise that many claims go through, without a problem, as forums tend to have the ones that have gone wrong!

Lin

ARCOrbit

Morglin wrote: »

You really need to calm down lol - we have all been where you are at, but you need to just deal with it, step by step.

Claim ESA, get your fit notes from the doctor, and take it step by step.

It is all confidential, other than things like contacting your medics, if they need to.

Be truthful with how your illness affects you, and how it stops you working. Back it up where you can, and send attached sheets of paper, giving fuller details if you need to give them more info.

Send everything by recorded or special delivery, and realise that many claims go through, without a problem, as forums tend to have the ones that have gone wrong!

Lin

Thank you so much for your advice! And I know you're right. I'm working myself up into such a panic over this, and I've already been spending weeks panicking about my health problems!

Okay, so I'll make a claim for ESA. Would it be best to print out the form from their website or do it over the phone?

Sorry for all the questions.

pmlindyloo

Can I just ask if you have a joint tenancy agreement with your flat mates or a tenancy agreement in your own names?

ARCOrbit

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Can I just ask if you have a joint tenancy agreement with your flat mates or a tenancy agreement in your own names?

I think it might be a little complicated here..... It is supposedly a joint tenancy agreement, i.e. we all have our names on one tenancy agreement. But we all pay slightly different amounts in rent. The landlord split the rent according to bedroom size - and the amount each of us individually pays is stated on the tenancy agreement. The full rent amount is also stated on the agreement.

Would this cause any problems?

Also, the landlord pays the council tax - but states this on the tenancy agreement, i.e. it says the council tax is x amount per month and this is included in the rent.

NB. I've initially only been signed off for 2 months. And I'm hoping that the hospital treatment will work, in which case I should be okay to start working again. So, I'll thinking of not claiming LHA for now. I've got a very small amount of savings left so if I get ESA to tide me over, I should be okay to pay the rent (although I've checked a benefit calculator and am entitled to claim LHA).