Housing Benefit new claim due to income drop

skater_kat

Looking to find out how income for HB is calculated.

Current income £1800 pcm two people working part time. One person is leaving employment - and not signing on - as of July 2016. Income will drop to 900pcm between the two people.

Income from 1st July onwards will be 900pcm so possibilty entilted to HB from the 1st July.

however, HB new claimants are asked to submit their last two month's wage slips and bank statements - fine of course, but this will be representing the old level of income not the current level of income.

So, based on that the award would be NIL. So should a claim be put in on 1st July including the P45 and hope it gets re-calculated later on and uprated retrospectively, based on the lower earnings? or put in claim in september, showing the last two months lower earnings and request backdating to 1st july?

thanks

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Provide wage slips and P45 and make sure you state the job has ceased. They can see the wages going into the bank account match the wage slips and the P45 confirms the job has ceased.

Put the claim in before the 1st July 2016. Benefit claims start the following Monday after receipt.

If you want the claim to start 4th July 2016 submit it the week before.

If you want the claim to start from the 27th June 2016 submit it the week before etc.

If you submit the claim in September it won't be backdated and you will lose out.

If you could afford the rent when you moved in and not claimed HB in the past 52 weeks then the full rent figure and not the LHA rate will be used for 13 weeks before dropping down to the LHA rate - make sure you ask for the 13 weeks protection when you claim.

If you don't have all the evidence (i.e. P45) still claim and put a note with claim saying you will provide it when it is available.

skater_kat

thank you HB officer

it is social housing, so LHA not relevant - does the 13 week rule still apply? (not claimed in last year, moved in 2008 and could afford before the income drop)

cheers

Housing_Benefit_Officer

skater_kat wrote: »

thank you HB officer

it is social housing, so LHA not relevant - does the 13 week rule still apply? (not claimed in last year, moved in 2008 and could afford before the income drop)

cheers

If you have extra bedroom and are liable for the bedroom tax then yes you are protected from the bedroom tax being deduction for 13 weeks.