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

RAS

Recent experience has been that you get 3 months ESA based on Fit notes and then an assessment. That took another 7 months for them to make a decision, before ATOS decided to back out. So the chances of you being assessed in the next 6-9 months are small.

Hopefully that will be long enough for you to start recovering.

ARCOrbit

RAS wrote: »

Recent experience has been that you get 3 months ESA based on Fit notes and then an assessment. That took another 7 months for them to make a decision, before ATOS decided to back out. So the chances of you being assessed in the next 6-9 months are small.

Hopefully that will be long enough for you to start recovering.

Thank you! I really hope to have recovered by then! Aside from the money worries, it's really depressing being unable to do anything, and that's not just work - I've been mostly housebound and it's horrible.

I feel slightly better after all the kind advice here, and I've just checked about my tenancy and my landlord is paying full council tax (so no dodgy single person discount situation).

I'd better get on with claiming because I've found out the LHA for my area is massively short of my rent. And I'm paying way below market rent for my area (the flat is rather shabby and only semi-furnished so the rent is cheaper). So I need to claim before all my savings run out so that I can top up the rent! I'm actually 35 so am eligible for a 1-bedroom rent (and there are studio flats within the LHA allowance round here) but finding somewhere else to live whilst on benefits would be extremely difficult, and I'd then find it hard to pay the rent when I started working again!

pmlindyloo

ARCOrbit wrote: »

Thank you! I really hope to have recovered by then! Aside from the money worries, it's really depressing being unable to do anything, and that's not just work - I've been mostly housebound and it's horrible.

I feel slightly better after all the kind advice here, and I've just checked about my tenancy and my landlord is paying full council tax (so no dodgy single person discount situation).

I'd better get on with claiming because I've found out the LHA for my area is massively short of my rent. And I'm paying way below market rent for my area (the flat is rather shabby and only semi-furnished so the rent is cheaper). So I need to claim before all my savings run out so that I can top up the rent! I'm actually 35 so am eligible for a 1-bedroom rent (and there are studio flats within the LHA allowance round here) but finding somewhere else to live whilst on benefits would be extremely difficult, and I'd then find it hard to pay the rent when I started working again!

Just a 'heads up'.

When you claim housing benefit you should ask about the '13 week protection rule'. Basically if you have been able to pay your rent and not claimed housing benefit for 52 weeks then you are entitled to your full rent (as specified on your tenancy agreement) for 13 weeks and not the local housing rate.

Hopefully, in your case, this will give you time to get back to work and not have to claim HB.

ARCOrbit

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Just a 'heads up'.

When you claim housing benefit you should ask about the '13 week protection rule'. Basically if you have been able to pay your rent and not claimed housing benefit for 52 weeks then you are entitled to your full rent (as specified on your tenancy agreement) for 13 weeks and not the local housing rate.

Hopefully, in your case, this will give you time to get back to work and not have to claim HB.

That would be really helpful! Thank you. Does it count as being able to pay your rent if I should have been claiming LHA already, i.e. my savings are now well under £16,000 so would they say I can't really afford the rent because my savings are so low? Hope that makes sense!

I think I'll hold off on claiming LHA at least until I sign a new tenancy agreement. Renewal isn't far off and I'd feel safer with the new tenancy agreement signed.

Morglin

I believe, for those of working age, means tested benefits, such as LHA, start to be affected with savings over £6000.

It won't affect any contributory ESA you recieve, but might affect any help with the rent.

You can do a home calculation at the Turn2us site.

Lin

sunnyone

Mrs_Ryan wrote: »

I'm on ESA and they've never asked me about my partner if I remember rightly. They know I have one but they haven't asked me about him.

It dosnt matter who you live with or if you are a millionaire so long as you are claiming contributions based ESA, if you dont want to disclose any details you just dont fill in the form for income based benefits but if you want income based you have to expect to tell all including your knicker size id they ask.

ARCOrbit

Morglin wrote: »

I believe, for those of working age, means tested benefits, such as LHA, start to be affected with savings over £6000.

It won't affect any contributory ESA you recieve, but might affect any help with the rent.

You can do a home calculation at the Turn2us site.

Lin

Hi Lin

Thank you again for your advice. I can't say how much I appreciate getting people's advice.

I'll have a look at the Turn2us site.

I know I would have a little bit taken off any benefits I claim because of savings - but I think I should claim now before all my savings run out! Especially if I do at some stage need to top up rent.

I'm not actually sure if I'll get contributory ESA. I need to check the date I last worked - but think I'm still eligible. I know I've paid NI for years before these past few years - but from what I understand, it only counts if I paid in the last 2 tax years (I think I'm still covered but need to check). My head's been all over the place and I actually can't remember when I left work! Luckily I keep paperwork.

I'll claim income-based if I have to.

ARCOrbit

sunnyone wrote: »

It dosnt matter who you live with or if you are a millionaire so long as you are claiming contributions based ESA, if you dont want to disclose any details you just dont fill in the form for income based benefits but if you want income based you have to expect to tell all including your knicker size id they ask.

Thanks! I'll happily tell then my knicker size if they ask!

I don't have a partner at all (not easy to meet anyone when I've been mostly housebound), I just live with unrelated people (flatmates) in a flatshare.

It's not pleasant but if I have to give them all my details - finances, etc, I will. But I don't think my flatmates would be happy giving their details. They're not related to me or even close friends. They wouldn't care about my financial position.

If I had to ask them I would but I understand that it's not necessary to give their information because we're not a single household.

Hopefully everything will be okay.

ArtoDeeto

ARCOrbit wrote: »

I'm desperate for some help and advice.
I've been too scared to make a benefit claim because I don't want my landlord to find out but I'm running out of money and don't know what to do.
I'm having treatment for my health problem and my doctor thinks I should be okay to work in the next 2 months. They've given me a sickness note covering 2 months.

Well that is the whole reason we have a benefit system - to help people in need like you.

There is no shame in needing help so claim what you are entitled to.

Mrs_Ryan

sunnyone wrote: »

It dosnt matter who you live with or if you are a millionaire so long as you are claiming contributions based ESA, if you dont want to disclose any details you just dont fill in the form for income based benefits but if you want income based you have to expect to tell all including your knicker size id they ask.

they only have to ask :rotfl: OH works full time so income based would be a waste of time. I'm on CB ESA and have been placed in Support Group anyway so there's been no further questions. When I first claimed some idiot woman at the DWP first told me that despite having worked full time for the NHS and paid correct contributions for 6 years I wasn't entitled to ESA and then because I claim Carer's Allowance (I don't as OH is only on LRC DLA) it would come off my ESA..