Housing Benefit and LHA

jr1985

As a single, under 35-year old, with a disability, I am entitled to LHA for 1 bedroom (as opposed to shared accommodation). Does this mean you are actually restricted to living in a 1 bedroom apartment, or can you live in a 2 bedroom, and pay the excess yourself?

I wouldn't mind living in 1 bedroom but looking for 2 bedrooms give you more options.

PS. Excluding rent, could someone live on £600-700 per month?

Caz3121

I guess you have a severe disability or the need for an overnight carer to be exempt from the shared accommodation for under 35s so the option of 2 bedrooms may be better unless your carer would be sleeping in the living room...you can rent whatever size property you wish but your benefit will be based on using the LHA rate applicable for your circumstances and reduced by your income

Lanzarote1938

jr1985 wrote: »

PS. Excluding rent, could someone live on £600-700 per month?

Bl***y heck I would hope so!

thorsoak

Pensioners do!

Indie_Kid

You have to be on mid or high rate care DLA or either daily living component of PIP and no-one claims carers allowance for you (ie, you're entitled to the severe disability premium) to be entitled to the 1 bedroom rate.

PasturesNew

A single person on JSA, with rent paid on a 1-bed, and council tax paid, would have half of that to live on. More like £310/month for everything.

jr1985

I have DLA (middle/lower) and no one gets carers for me. I live with my parents and I don't really know if I could cope on my own, but they aren't going to be around forever.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

A benefit claimant can move into any size rented property they want. Housing Benefit will be restricted to the LHA rate applicable to the claimant. If they want to pay the difference that is their choice.

jr1985

Thank you.

Do I apply for Housing Benefit before or after moving in? What happens if I sign a contract, then get turned down for housing benefit? According to the benefit calculator I used I should be entitled, but just in case it's wrong.

Also, in regards to income, mine varies month to month due to overtime, would I need to inform them anytime it changes, or only if it went over £16,000 (it never would)?

Sorry for all the questions, but I'm completely ignorant about all of this.

pmlindyloo

jr1985 wrote: »

Thank you.

Do I apply for Housing Benefit before or after moving in? What happens if I sign a contract, then get turned down for housing benefit? According to the benefit calculator I used I should be entitled, but just in case it's wrong.

Also, in regards to income, mine varies month to month due to overtime, would I need to inform them anytime it changes, or only if it went over £16,000 (it never would)?

Sorry for all the questions, but I'm completely ignorant about all of this.

Housing benefit is a means tested benefit so your eligibility will depend on your income and your savings. The savings limit is £16000 (not the income limit)

Put your details into the calculator on https://www.entitledto.co.uk as if you were living in a flat by yourself. Then put in your average earnings and average hours. Are you averaging 16 hrs a week and claiming working tax credits with the disability element?

Or are you claiming ESA and doing Permitted work?

Or are you working with no benefits other than your DLA?

In any case, just put your details onto the calculator or go to CAB for some advice about moving into a place of your own. This calculator will show you what the local housing allowance is for your area for a one bed place. This will give you an idea of what kind of rent you should be looking at.

You would have to show a tenancy agreement as part of your application for HB so you really need to know what your entitlement is.

You can also go to the council for some housing advice. You say you may not 'manage on your own'. They may have some other possible housing options for you. Difficult to say as I do not know the extent of your disability but maybe worth a visit to your council.

FBaby

Have you been told you would be entitled to a one bed instead of shared accommodation or are you assuming you would be?