How do housing benefits work?

CarlyS123

We're a bit overwhelmed with it, how do you get a house on the council?

NeilCr

Information on Housing Benefit here

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/help-if-on-a-low-income/housing-benefit/help-with-your-rent-housing-benefit/

Alice_Holt

Your brother will need to make a claim with his local council housing benefit dept. They will also help with the Council Tax. The sooner the better once he has accepted the tenancy, but be aware it is possible to request a 1 month backdate.

Some more info here:https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/housing_benefit/shared_accommodation_rate_for_under_35s

Re- the PIP form (which may be important to help him sustain his new tenancy as it could also entitle him to disability premiums on his ESA)

I would suggest getting help to complete the form from his local CAB / advice agency / national autistic society. The CAB will always be very busy, so contact them asap and be persistent.

(Talk to the social workers, as sometimes the council will fund the CAB to provide benefits casework for vulnerable young adults. Ask them about the councils provisions under the Care Act 2014 to provide information and advice services relating to care and support for all people in its area. See - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/care-act-statutory-guidance/care-and-support-statutory-guidance#chapter-3)

Here is some info on PIP and completing the form:
https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-self-test
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-pip-claim/fill-in-form/
http://www.autism.org.uk/pip
https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-claims
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/547146/pip-assessment-guide.pdf (pages 86 on re reliably, and 97 on re Daily Living)

Best wishes.
P.S. Medical evidence really helps. Can you get some letters / evidence from the mental health team to attach to the PIP form? And maybe his social workers / OT's or GP.

pmlindyloo

Since he has been offered a council flat the shared accommodation rate will not apply.

http://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Shared-Room

Alice_Holt

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Since he has been offered a council falt the shared accommodation rate will not apply.

http://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Shared-Room

Thanks pmlindyloo.
I'll amend my post.

elsien

if the rent is higher than the single person LH allowance he would still need to top up the difference himself.

passatrider

elsien wrote: »

if the rent is higher than the single person LH allowance he would still need to top up the difference himself.

Correct, this only applies to private rented accommodation though. If it's a council/housing association place then the Lh allowance rule doesn't apply.

tyler2027

may I point out that the rules for housing benefit change in April 2019

Those who sign a tenancy from April 2016 will be affected. Local housing allowance rules will be applied to social housing tenants in 2019. Initially this was meant to start in 2018 but has been pushed back a year to April 2019. Benefit calculators will ask, nearer the time, for the date tenancy commenced. Universal credit calculator asks for the date of the tenancy already

There are groups that will be exempt from this change (see link below) including those receiving DLA and PIP.

Given that most social housing is the cheapest in a given area (but not all) it is likely that a tenants LHA will be higher than the rent they pay. Those most likely to be affected could be single renters under 35 in one bed flat with a LHA lower than the rent due (LHA shared accom rate), or people in a three bed house with LHA for a one bed (thinking of people whose kids have left home). Also, social homes can have higher rent levels ie affordable rent is higher than social rent.


What I'm not sure of, and would appreciate clarification on, in the second link below there is an "examples" link within the page - it appears to me that "old" tenants on housing benefit are not affected, but it appears not so for housing allowance under UC - they give an example of a person with a tenancy dated 2014 who claims UC in 2019 who is affected by LHA. Also the third link implies that those who on go onto receive housing allowance under UC will be affected in 2019 regardless of when they signed their tenancy.


Would appreciate a fresh pair of eyes looking at this!


https://universal-benefit-calculator.co.uk/universalcredit


http://www.westlancs.gov.uk/bills-benefits/help-and-money-advice/changes-to-social-housing-benefits.aspx

https://www.stlegerhomes.co.uk/moneywise/benefits/welfare-reform-other-changes/local-housing-allowance-cap/

This will include those signing new tenancies for the first time, as well as those who change tenancies - ie homeswap/adding or removing a joint tenant, or succession.


hth


Ty

dktreesea

Tyler2027, I am not sure that this will be as effective as the government hope. Say someone is in a three bedroom council house, children left home, living alone. The social rent for a 3 bedroom council house in West Lancs is around £80 to £85 a week. The local housing allowance for the size of housing the tenant would be entitled to, say a 1 bedroom flat, is £89 a week. More than enough to cover the rent for a three bedroom place.


The bedroom tax may be an incentive to move, but presumably too many households are choosing to pay it rather than downsizing (or the council has nothing suitable for them to downsize to).

tyler2027

Hi

Where I am its different (Cambridge). A lot of the properties coming up for rent are at affordable rather than social levels. For example, one bed flats go at £142+ pw but the LHA for 35+ is £125 pw. The private rentals start at around £165 pw. I am one of those who pay to stay (I pay the bedroom tax). The rent for my two bed house is at social rent level and just under £100 pw which is gold dust in this city. I will no longer consider downsizing to places with high rents above the LHA rate. In fact I am now highly unlikely to downsize at all. It will cost me less in bedroom tax to stay, than to move to the above flat.


There is a severe shortage of social rent one bed places to move to. Add in the need for a ground floor flat or bungalow for medical reasons and its worse. I have considered a couple of places, but am glad I didn't move as those places had high rents which didn't bother me at the time, but would come back to bite me in 2019.

For those unaware of the forthcoming changes, they may opt for the higher rent flat (newer, in a nicer area) thinking that housing benefit will cover all or some of their rent (if on low income). Or they may not may not need any housing rent benefit at this time. This LHA "cap" may be shock to some people, in some areas in the future.

So yes, its not going to stimulate the market in downsizing, in fact more likely the opposite. You will have "older tenancy" tenants like me staying put, waiting for universal credit to kick in, so that I will be able to take in a lodger without penalty to benefits, and keep the rent. Then you will have people in affordable rent places hit a tough patch in life and needing benefits, who find out that the LHA cap is going to cost them a lot each week and they will be looking not to downsize but to move to social rent places. Around here those in social rent places are the least likely group to move now this plan will come into action - as their rents are more than likely to be under the LHA rate.


Ty

Bananas123

hello,

...its very complex, and they don't tell you i don't think, you have to ring and they work it all out on your circumstances.

would need to know ALOT of personal details about your brother... and then probably would get it wrong....

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it's simple renting privately (you just reference the LHA rates basically, then have to pay any excess, regardless)

but council housing, they take into account income, disability, status (single etc), needs (to assess priority of housing), then they number crunch and come up with entitlement.

i think the benefit cap is £250 per week or something for a single person (guess).

so basically, because your brother is on very low income, and has mental illness (i.e. is nowhere near the cap currently, and shows "need") > you should pretty definately get it all paid (the £90).

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the only foreseeable problems, i think would be if he is under 35 and could not prove disability etc.

if he is being offered housing though (and it was not a long wait) then that should indicate the council are aware of his problems though... so i don't think you would have a problem.

but the best people to ring are the housing benefit people! (i could be completely wrong and am speculating considerably).

i know you definately have to ring and make a claim for housing benefit... if not much else.

regards