Student parent housing benefit nightmare

Alice_Holt

Mimim0sa wrote: »

By appeal is that yes, I disputed the decision of the HB Team..... they finally said they'd looked into it and upheld the decision. .

Appeal it to tribunal, if they haven't given you a full breakdown, or explained what the other income of £150 is, or you still think it incorrect.

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/housing_benefit/housing_benefit_revisions_and_appeals
https://www.gov.uk/appeal-housing-benefit-decision
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/benefits-introduction/problems-with-benefits-and-tax-credits/challenging-a-benefit-decision/challenging-a-benefit-decision-where-to-start/

Email (or write to) the CAB when you have the full breakdown from the council and ask them to contact the Citizens advice national Expert Advice Team (EAT) to check if the council's calculation is correct. You will need to give full details of your grant(s) / financial situation / rent details / housing situation / etc. Use this response in your submission to the tribunal.

borkid

Mimim0sa wrote: »

Yes, I do need carpets I have a kid who has already hurt their foot on an exposed nail in the bare floorboards. Wifi is essential as a student parent, as it means dragging child to library to attempt to do work and invariably kid gets bored after a while and disturbs others. I was quite able to cover these "luxuries" while renting in the previous borough, because the HB was adequate. It's similar rent here so that's why I'm so puzzled that my entitlement is so much less.

Try putting a request on freecycle for carpet pieces you might not like the colour etc but it will cover the floorboards. Until then 'insist' that your child wears slippers/ light shoes in the flat at all times. Also you need to go over every inch of the uncovered floor with your fingertips and check for nails and the hammer any protruding ones in .

elmer

Is there big difference in your LHA rate from one council to another?

elmer

Alice_Holt

elmer wrote: »

Is there big difference in your LHA rate from one council to another?

elmer

Asked @ post 3 - point 6.
Together with link for OP to follow.

I think we are still awaiting a response to this question from the OP.

It would also be useful if the OP could tell us if she has a detailed breakdown of the calculation (post 3 - point 1), if she has then she could post it here along with her income and grant details.
Experts such as Housing Benefit Officer & CIS may then be able to give her some detailed comments / advice.

Ames

elmer wrote: »

Is there big difference in your LHA rate from one council to another?

elmer

Alice_Holt wrote: »

Asked @ post 3 - point 6.
Together with link for OP to follow.

I think we are still awaiting a response to this question from the OP.

It would also be useful if the OP could tell us if she has a detailed breakdown of the calculation (post 3 - point 1), if she has then she could post it here along with her income and grant details.
Experts such as Housing Benefit Officer & CIS may then be able to give her some detailed comments / advice.

The OP said she's in social housing so LHA doesn't apply. Unless there are some new rules?

Mollycat13

Is it possible to list what they've said on the award notice. I've found that when I've claimed housing benefit before, they tend to lump all sorts of income together then take it off again during the calculation.

Also, is there a possibility that you were being overpaid housing benefit in your last property? Perhaps they made an error which could account for the difference.

You need to speak to someone at the council and request a full breakdown of this £150 per week income. This will hopefully shed some light on things.

tboo

Final year students are assessed differently - less days so this may mean higher weekly income.

As others have said the £150 income needs to be clarified

[Deleted User]

When I have gone into HB, I have often come out more confused than when I went in.., I get multiple sheets of paperwork from the council every year and rarely understand what I actually have to pay. But last time I was lucky enough to get someone who explained it in plain english.

I rent social housing and have a special needs 21 year old who is studying at university. Finally managed to get a letter from his university (don't ask) saying he's a full time student, and applied for an amendment in council tax and rent I have to pay (before he was a student he counted as an independent adult so I had to pay rent for him as he was in receipt of ESA).

In the last couple of days I have received two sets of paperwork for council tax and HB.., and no idea what I have to pay and if the fact my son is a student has been taken into account.., and I promise you I can read lolol.

So I fully understand your confusion and frustration.

I would suggest going to the CAB and asking for an appt with EAT. Unfortunately the CAB is mostly staffed by overworked volunteers and you don't always get proper advice.

I'm not quite sure what I am going to do lol.

The daft thing is, once ESA finally get their act together and decide what my son should get via ESA (changes because of his student loan) I will have my HB and council tax reassessed once again. God help me lololol.