Benefits,What's available?

pmlindyloo

pmlindyloo wrote: »

The single person's discount is quite separate to council tax support (reduction).

You and your daughter need to do the following:

1. Check that she is receiving the correct ESA. She may be receiving contribution based ESA (based on her NI contributions). She needs to be also assessed for income based ESA which will then entitle her to HB and CT reduction.

2. Get onto the council and check that she is getting her full rent paid. if she could afford the rent when she began the tenancy and she hasn't claimed HB in the last 52 weeks then she should be entitled to a 13 week protection period when her full rent will be paid. Many councils do not advertise this so ask for it.

3. if she is not eligible for the 13 week protection for HB then complete a form for a Discretionary Housing Payment (from the council). This is money to help in situations like this and can be used to 'top up' the HB for her rent.

4. Apply for Council Tax Reduction (Support).

Usually if a claimant is on income based ESA then the HB and CT is sorted out for them hence my number 1 about checking which ESA she is on.

Please see the bold.

She does not have to have been able to afford the rent for 52 weeks.

She has to have been able to afford it when her tenancy began.

She must have not claimed HB for the 52 weeks before her present claim.

Ask as to whether she is entitled to her full rent under the 13 week protection rule.

bujin

Thanks for this. Sorry I did understand what you meant.No she wasn't able to afford the rent at the beginning of the tenancy, but with the news today, she'll have just enough to cover all her outgoings with a shortfall of £12 she intends to reduce her food bill to cover this. Because she refuses to have it made up by us!!