Housing benefit "overpayment" what if my rent was lower than the max LHA

Viberduo

Tried to make this sound as simple as possible, at present have a £92 a week flat getting £62 a week LHA but they take £10 off as they claim I was overpaid many years ago which I dispute.

I want to move to a cheaper property one I found at £50 a week but I assume they will just give me £40 a week still.

In case anyone starts an argument its just that I would think it logical that if my rent is below the LHA rate by £12 a week then it would make sense to do something like get £10 a week taken off then apply for hardship from them and get a few quid a week back.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

You won't get a penny LHA to plug a shortfall caused by the recovery of an overpayment.

You can apply for DHP at your current address and ask for the overpayment to be deducted at a lower rate as it is causing financial hardship.

Viberduo

Housing_Benefit_Officer wrote: »

You won't get a penny LHA to plug a shortfall caused by the recovery of an overpayment.

You can apply for DHP at your current address and ask for the overpayment to be deducted at a lower rate as it is causing financial hardship.

Thats what I thought, as for the overpayment they claim its "set by the government" so they cant change it despite them knowing my rent topup WITHOUT them taking off £10 for overpayment is £30 so now I have to pay £40 a week towards rent, £7 towards council tax, and they also take off £10 a week from my ESA for council tax arrears for the same period so my renting alone costs me like £57 a week of my £70 ESA and they think that is acceptable, if it wasnt for the fact I have a bus pass I wouldnt leave the house as its £3 return to nearest supermarket and 2 miles away.