Bit of help

OneLife_OneShot

Hi guys, basically I am looking to rent a place with my friend for a minimum of 12 months come August or so.

I work on average 28 hours per week and I was told that I could get some help with the rent.

I looked at my LHA rates for 2015/6 and it says since I am under 35 and single that it would have to be a shared room rate. This rate is stated at £48.45/week.

The place is £400 a month including rates between us so £200 each, my friend also works but about 16 hours per week at the moment.

Does that rate mean I could get £48.45/week of my rent paid for me? I am trying to put it into the online calculate and it wants to know what "eligible rent" is and I have not a clue.

Thanks

Guest101

conisme wrote: »

Hi guys, basically I am looking to rent a place with my friend for a minimum of 12 months come August or so.

I work on average 28 hours per week and I was told that I could get some help with the rent.

I looked at my LHA rates for 2015/6 and it says since I am under 35 and single that it would have to be a shared room rate. This rate is stated at £48.45/week.

The place is £400 a month including rates between us so £200 each, my friend also works but about 16 hours per week at the moment.

Does that rate mean I could get £48.45/week of my rent paid for me? I am trying to put it into the online calculate and it wants to know what "eligible rent" is and I have not a clue.

Thanks

Try the benefits board, as the calculator is misleading sometimes.

pmlindyloo

conisme wrote: »

Hi guys, basically I am looking to rent a place with my friend for a minimum of 12 months come August or so.

I work on average 28 hours per week and I was told that I could get some help with the rent.

I looked at my LHA rates for 2015/6 and it says since I am under 35 and single that it would have to be a shared room rate. This rate is stated at £48.45/week.

The place is £400 a month including rates between us so £200 each, my friend also works but about 16 hours per week at the moment.

Does that rate mean I could get £48.45/week of my rent paid for me? I am trying to put it into the online calculate and it wants to know what "eligible rent" is and I have not a clue.

Thanks

Since you are under 35 then the shared room rate would apply even if you were sharing with a friend.

This is the maximum amount that you would be eligible for.

Try putting your details into the calculator on here:

https://www.entitledto.co.uk

Since you are working then you may not get all of your rent paid or not be entitled to any help.

I am not familiar with the N. Ireland system. When you say the rates are included do you mean rates as in our council tax?

If your landlord cannot tell you what the actual rent is (with council tax/rates/ deducted) then there is a formula that is used to decide what the actual rent is. At least that's how it works in England

OneLife_OneShot

I had a go at the entitledto calculator thanks for the link, yes council tax is in our rates here in NI.

I decided to look at the worst case scenario incase I rented the place myself it put in £46.59 based on the shared room rate for my postcode. At £400/month I would be paying £100 per week.

It gave me no benefit at all for working 28 hours average at min wage. Now if I split the rent into what hopefully will be just £200 a month it still gives me no benefit.

Yet I put in 16hours a week work and it was saying I would only have to pay £17.16 a week. Surely something is wrong here.

pmlindyloo

conisme wrote: »

I had a go at the entitledto calculator thanks for the link, yes council tax is in our rates here in NI.

I decided to look at the worst case scenario incase I rented the place myself it put in £46.59 based on the shared room rate for my postcode. At £400/month I would be paying £100 per week.

It gave me no benefit at all for working 28 hours average at min wage. Now if I split the rent into what hopefully will be just £200 a month it still gives me no benefit.

Yet I put in 16hours a week work and it was saying I would only have to pay £17.16 a week. Surely something is wrong here.

It is worked out on your income.

You are earning too much to receive HB. They do not take into account your actual rent.

The amount of HB you can get is a fixed amount. That is the maximum that you would receive (if you were on JSA for example.)

Is there any reason why you cannot 'up your income'? You need to work more hrs or get another part time job.

If you are over 25 then you could apply for working tax credits but you need to work a minimum of 30 hrs a week to be eligible.

moneyistooshorttomention

I'm rather curious about a "shared room" rate, ie as to what it is.

Is it quite literally = sharing a bedroom?

I presume they really mean "shared house" rate and everyone is deemed at least entitled to one room to themselves?

RAS

It is usually a room in a shared house.