Question about Housing benefit + disability premiums

grrrrrowl

Hi everyone,

I've recently managed to qualify for PIP at the enhanced rate for the living component. This will be backdated to Jan 13th 2014 and as such I would like to ask a couple of questions and see if anyone is able to help.

1. I am 34 and as such fall into the shared accomodation LHA bracket. Since the PIP award now exempts me from that rule, will I also be able to claim back the difference of the shared vs 1 bedroom single person rate back to Jan 13th?

2. I am now also eligible to receive severe disabled premium. Is this 2 different awards for HB and ESA?

3. The rate for severe disability premium is around £69 (on HB)... is that weekly or monthly?

4. Finally, are the disability premiums (for HB) regarded as money purely for rent? The reason I ask is that if I include the premiums (assuming the £69 addition is weekly) to my full rate of LHA it takes me over my current rent.

Thanks for anyone who is able to help

Indie_Kid

The premiums for LHA, you don't see them. The money the government says you need to live on increases. So, if you just receive contributions based ESA, you may now have to pay less rent if you're in the situation where you have to top up your rent.

grrrrrowl

I don't really understand your response sorry. ESA is income based, the rent is private so that is not going to change (unless I move of course!)

tomtontom

You need to look up the 1 bed LHA rate for your area. This is what you will now be entitled to.

nannytone_2

the disability premium in housing benefit is not a cash sum.
all it means is that you can have a higher income before they start reducing housing benefit.
with regards to ESA. as you receive income based and have been awarded PIP, you can claim the severe disability oremium as long as you live alone and no one claims carers allowance for looking after you. it will be backdated to the date of the PIP award.

housing benefit ... you would now be elibable for the 1 bed rate and not the shared accomodation rate, but only if you actually live in a 1 bed property.

grrrrrowl

Thanks, I don't really understand this applicable amount thing but my HB at the full rate doesn't quite cover my rent and my only income is from esa (and now PIP) so I can't imagine they'd reduce it anyway. I guess in my instance it will not affect me.

Does anyone know if I will be able to claim the backdated difference on the HB back to the start of my PIP award?

Also..... are you guys saying that all premiums are actually just an addition to this applicable amount and that you don't see any of it (on HB or ESA)? If so I don't understand the point of the premiums!

nannytone_2

read my post again.
it clearly states that now you get PIP as well as income based ESA, you are eligible for the severe disability premium and it would be backdated to the date that PIP was awarded. phone the DWP and ask for a claim form.
housing benefit cannot be claimed at 1 bed rate if you are living in shared accomodation, only if you rent a 1 bed property.
your PIP award means that you can now live in a 1 bed property instead of a shared property and receive the relevant rate of LHA

grrrrrowl

nannytone wrote: »

read my post again.
it clearly states that now you get PIP as well as income based ESA, you are eligible for the severe disability premium and it would be backdated to the date that PIP was awarded. phone the DWP and ask for a claim form.
housing benefit cannot be claimed at 1 bed rate if you are living in shared accomodation, only if you rent a 1 bed property.
your PIP award means that you can now live in a 1 bed property instead of a shared property and receive the relevant rate of LHA

I am living in a 1 bed property on my own. I am only on the shared rate as I am below 35. As my PIP award is backdated to Jan 13th, technically I should have been entitled to the 1 bed rate as the PIP makes me exempt from the under 35's HB rule.... that's why I ask if it can be backdated to claim back the difference between the shared rate and 1 bed rate.

nannytone_2

in that case then yes, they should backdate it.
though im not sure if they will only backdate it for 3 months. if they do i would appeal to get the extra week or so refunded as well.
which ESA group are you in?

grrrrrowl

support group.

Just to clear up the SDP issue on HB... since my only income is income related esa and PIP and I have no other capital... it really makes no difference to me whether I claim any HB premiums at all since it only affects the upper limit (applicable amount) to any reductions I'd incur? (unless of course the SDP on ESA means that SDP would be applied to my HB in any case)

nannytone_2

yes, thats exactly right.
the premium only comes into play if you are working or have some other source of income.
in that instance, they allow you to keep the exra amount before they start reducing HB